In Warner Robins, Georgia, summer is prime air conditioning season. You’ll want to make sure your cooling system can keep your home perfectly comfortable all summer long. If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, you may have considered purchasing a smaller system to save money or a larger model for improved cooling. Tempting as these options may seem, both can result in serious discomfort for the family. Learn why accurate HVAC system sizing is essential and discover what can happen when you purchase a system that’s too large or too small.
Accurately Sized HVAC Systems Maintain Optimal Comfort
At Pruett Air Conditioning, we know how important correct HVAC system sizing is for your comfort. That’s why we never estimate the size of your air conditioner. Some HVAC professionals use general rules of thumb to cut corners, but we use the Manual J load calculation, a standard for HVAC professionals, to assess how much cooling power your home requires.
This residential load calculation takes much more than only your home’s sizing into account. The calculation also considers your home’s orientation, the amount of insulation, the level of shade and sun exposure, the number of windows, and the overall layout. When our HVAC professionals enter your home’s data into an industry software program, we can determine the total amount of cooling output your home needs.
With that information in hand, we can begin to design the ideal air conditioning system for your home, with a correct cooling load. We can also design appropriately sized ductwork that will enable your cooling system to run as efficiently as possible. By designing a system with your home’s specific needs in mind, our team can help keep your family comfortable all summer long.
Too-Small HVAC Systems Can Lead to Discomfort
An air conditioner is one of the most important systems in your home, which means that new models often need a substantial investment. A system that’s on the small side may have a slightly lower price tag, but it’s never worth any savings you may get up front.
Many too-small HVAC systems continually struggle to keep your home a comfortable temperature. They may never be able to cool the most distant rooms adequately, and areas that receive the most sun exposure may never feel cool enough during the summer.
In fact, to stay comfortable, you may have to consider investing in a supplementary cooling system. Effective cooling comes with a price tag, so supplementing with a portable air conditioning unit or a mini-split system would negate any savings you’d have by aiming small.
Overly Large HVAC Systems Can Cause Indoor Air Quality Issues
You can easily see why overly small air conditioners wouldn’t be able to keep up with your home’s cooling demands, but experienced HVAC professionals know that overly large systems also lead to serious discomfort. Too-big HVAC systems often have the power to cool your home quickly, since they’re designed to condition larger spaces. Once they reach their programmed temperatures, they shut off, typically long before they’ve completed a full cooling cycle.
Known as short cycling, this problem can lead to indoor air quality issues in your home. Since these overly large systems shut off before adequately addressing moisture levels, they often contribute to humidity problems. High humidity can cause your home to feel uncomfortably hot in the summer and lead to mold and dust mite problems.
Improperly Sized HVAC Systems Can Experience Frequent Breakdowns
HVAC systems that regularly work too hard or experience frequent short cycles never achieve efficiency. Since they rarely work the way they’re designed, improperly sized air conditioners could experience more frequent breakdowns than standard systems.
Multiple repairs over the course of the summer can put a serious burden on your household budget. Constant breakdowns can also mean hours or days without air conditioning, which can be a deal breaker in the Georgia heat. Rather than stressing about a malfunctioning air conditioner, opt for an accurately sized air conditioner model instead.
Don’t leave your home’s HVAC system to chance. Call our service professionals at Pruett Air Conditioning at 478-374-1481 for accurate sizing and professionally installed HVAC system components.
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