Why Does Air Conditioner Sizing Matter?
The warm months in the middle of summer can push cooling systems to the brinks. Normally, it’s pretty easy to tell when an older system cannot keep up with the workload required. When your system begins to fail repeatedly, it’s time to replace it. That being said, you don’t want to find a replacement without doing your research first. There are a lot of things that need to be factored into your purchasing decision to identify the right one. Many without the requisite knowledge get confused about what to look for when buying one.
A lot of homeowners get tempted to buy the newer model of their existing unit. Others may be swayed by the air conditioner sizing. However, that’s not how you should be basing your decision. Rather, you want to consider several important factors that can influence the price to value you get from the unit. Here are some of the most important factors to consider when buying a new air conditioner.
Why Does Air Conditioner Sizing Matter?
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Below, we discuss some of the factors to consider when replacing your air conditioning unit. This way, you don’t run into cooling problems down the road.
Manual J Load Calculation
A Manual J load calculation is one of the more complex processes that factor in a range of different things to determine the cooling needs of a home. This calculation is something that can be done by a licensed contractor who understands the ins and out’s of home cooling. Typically, they will use high-functioning software to get precise measurements.
These professionals must come up with the right metrics based on all of the factors that can go into figuring out the needs of the home. These things include the ceiling height, building materials used, window sizes, insulation, and more. The final result showcases the cooling load of the home.
Having this displayed as a numerical value makes it much easier to identify the right air conditioner for your home without having to guess. You end up with a number that you can use to make better and more informed buying decisions for your next installation.
Air Conditioner Comfort
Your air conditioner is meant to make your home more comfortable to live in. The cooling capacity of the air conditioner is only a single component of the comfort you get from being indoors. An effective AC unit also needs to effectively minimize humidity too. It does this by having vapor turn into beads of water that run down the channels.
One of the biggest issues, when you purchase and install a unit that is too large, is its cooling capacity is too great. The units end up cooling everything down too quickly that no AC unit condensation can occur. Because of this, it can create an environment of high humidity.
A lot of people in homes with air conditioners that are too large will end up counterbalancing by turning down their AC unit’s temperature which only wastes more energy unnecessarily. Likewise, because these units are so large, they require shorter cycles which can reduce the quality of air throughout the home. The system ends up pushing less air into the filters which means it doesn’t filter as effectively or efficiently.
Getting an air conditioning unit that is too small is another issue. Having a unit that is too small can lead to having a unit that’s incapable of holding up to the cooling needs of the home. With a smaller unit, it can take a lot longer for the home to reach optimal temperatures. This is especially evident on hotter days when the smaller unit cannot keep up with the cooling needs.
These units tend to have to work much harder than appropriately sized units which means they are much more likely to fail during operation. They end up having a lot more maintenance issues because they are constantly having to work harder which leads to quicker problems stemming from significant air conditioner wear and tear. You can expect your system to break down much more frequently when you get one that’s too small.
AC Unit Efficiency
You also want to factor in the efficiency of the cooling unit. Choosing an air conditioner that has a higher SEER rating is a great way to ensure that you are getting a highly efficient air conditioning unit. However, it’s not the only thing you need to look at when choosing. You also want to consider several other factors including its size.
Having the wrong sized unit will ensure the unit does not reach its maximum efficiency rating. After all, it’s going to be running suboptimally which will guarantee that there is a lot of wasted energy. Not only is it going to waste a lot of energy, but it’s also going to have to work harder because it’s not designed to cool that kind of space. This can lead to further wear and tear and breakdown of the parts and components which can further reduce efficiency. Because of this, you cannot single out units based on SEER rating without sizing them appropriately.
Air Conditioner Price
There is a lot that you have to consider when it comes to air conditioner price. Having a poorly matched unit is one of the easiest ways to ensure you have to spend a lot of money unnecessarily over time. It also means you will have to pay more upfront. You don’t want to pay for a unit that delivers high-level cooling if you don’t need it. You want to ensure you are choosing one based on your cooling needs.
Having a unit that frequently cycles is only going to waste energy and make the system break down quicker. This can skyrocket your monthly energy bills and it can force you to have to fix the unit more often.
You can prevent a lot of these issues altogether by doing your due diligence on the front-end. Getting a unit that is sized appropriately is the best way to start. You want a professional to give you a Manual J Calculation so you can find a unit that is the right fit for your place.
The Issues With Oversized Air Conditioning Units
To summarize, having an oversized unit becomes an issue because they will have shorter cooling cycles. After all, they cool the space too quickly. This means they won’t be able to go through normal cycles which reduces the efficiency of the unit and prevents it from filtering the air properly. Furthermore, it prevents it from lowering indoor humidity because the removal of condensation never occurs, a vital function of the air conditioner. This can make your home end up feeling cool but overly humid. It can also force you to spend more money on your monthly cooling bills with less comfort. Perhaps what’s worse, you have to spend more on the unit than necessary.
The Issues With Undersized Air Conditioning Units
When it comes to an undersized unit, you have other cooling issues that are just as bad. You end up with a system that doesn’t have the cooling capacity to meet the needs. This means you don’t get adequate cooling during the summer months. It also means they will be running consistently and never reach the desired temperature you’ve set. You will find these units to break down frequently because they are being pushed beyond their limits. This means you can expect to pay more money in annual maintenance costs and eventually a replacement sooner than you should have to.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right air conditioner requires careful analysis. You don’t want to choose one based on size, price, or looks. Just because a unit is large doesn’t mean it’s the right choice. You want to calculate the performance that your space requires for the best results. You need the right-sized unit that can meet the needs of your cooling space. Choosing the right air conditioner can save you money upfront and on an ongoing basis. To do this, you’ll want to hire a licensed contractor that can do the right calculations you need to make the right choice.
Call Miller Oil Company For All Of Your Air Conditioning Needs
Miller Oil Company delivers best-in-class heating and cooling services in Hartford County, Connecticut. With Miller Oil Company, you can work with certified heating and cooling technicians that can effectively offer you the best HVAC services. Every technician working for Miller Oil Company has the requisite experience and knowledge to ensure your HVAC system is installed and serviced properly.
Miller Oil Company offers the most competitive price in the area. You can call Miller Oil Company and get professionals assisting you in little time to ensure you get the best HVAC advice and service to improve your comfort and lower your energy bills. If you need a replacement or installation, you can get fitted with the appropriately sized air conditioner for your home without overspending. All of the work we perform is fully backed with an iron-clad guarantee for your peace of mind. You can call us right now to schedule a professional service appointment. We offer free, in-home estimates.
Click here to contact us today or give us a call at (860) 745-0326 if you have any questions.