When you live on the Gulf Coast of Florida, you know how hot and humid the climate can get. Our air conditioning systems are vital for our comfort, and homeowners may be tempted to think that the bigger the system, the better! After all, it seems logical that a sizeable A/C unit would cool the home more efficiently. However, this is not necessarily true.

Size matters regarding HVAC systems, but not in the way most people may think. In fact, an HVAC system that is too powerful can actually waste energy, money, and comfort. An A/C professional can help you determine the required heating or cooling capacity to maintain and optimize comfort in your home. This capacity is referred to as the home’s load, which is dependent on several factors, including:

  • the home’s orientation
  • the size of the home
  • the building materials used to construct the home
  • the number of residents in the home
  • the floorplan, layout, and ceiling height of the home
  • the thermal efficiency of the doors and windows

Calculating the load is necessary in order to purchase and install a properly sized air conditioning system.

Consequences Of An Inappropriately Sized HVAC System

Too Big / Too Much Power: A/C units are designed to release a specific amount of cool air over a particular period. Once the system achieves the programmed temperature, the thermostat shuts the program down before the entire home is adequately cooled, causing uneven cooling (known as short cycling.) Short cycling elevates the potential for systemic wear and tear and results in less efficient operation. An oversized unit is also more likely to break down as compared to a properly sized system.

Too Small / High Utility Costs: If the A/C unit is not large enough to cool the house effectively, electricity bills are likely to be higher than appropriate for the home. The system must work overtime to meet the required level of cooling and therefore consumes significantly more energy than it should. The unit may overheat and shut down entirely during our notoriously hot summers, as it can cause frozen evaporator coils or a system overheating. Even if the smart thermostat is set to a comfortable temperature, a too-small air conditioner may never reach the desired level.

Too Small / Extended Use Of A/C: The warm, humid air and moisture in the home are absorbed by an air conditioning unit, which processes and cools the air until it reaches the setting on the thermostat. If the AC unit is too small for the house, it will be fighting a losing battle to attain the desired temperature, as it doesn’t have the cooling capacity for the space. It never comes to the end of a cycle and runs continuously.

Sizing is Essential for Maximum Efficiency

An incorrectly sized A/C system can result in overstressed equipment, inadequately cooled homes, and high energy bills. Therefore, it is prudent to ask an A/C professional to help you ascertain the appropriate size for your new air conditioning system to avoid significant operational issues and extend the life of your new unit.

Ocean Air is a professional air conditioning services company with a reputation for exceptional customer service, honesty, and transparency. We are interested in building strong client relationships, so we will always give you the best advice. Call today to learn more about our “shared ownership” philosophy or to schedule a maintenance call or inspection.