When the summer season arrives in full force, having the right-sized air conditioner is essential. Pro Heating and Cooling, Inc. in Hillsboro, OR, understands the importance of using and installing AC systems that are the correct size. This helps ensure your system is reliable and efficient. Not only that, but it will increase your comfort level through warm days and heat waves.
Sizing Your Air Conditioner
When it comes to air conditioning, choosing a bigger system doesn’t necessarily equate to better cooling. An air conditioner that is too large for your home can cause high energy bills. On top of that, it can lead to temperature fluctuations in various places. Areas near the thermostat tend to cool quickly, while rooms on the other end of the home remain hot. Our technicians at Pro Heating and Cooling, Inc. provide in-depth calculations to ensure you get the right-sized system.
Manual J Load Calculation
Our experts at Pro Heating and Cooling, Inc. will perform a Manual J load calculation to determine the right size AC for your home. We start our calculation by assessing the square footage of your residence. For approximately every 500 square feet, you will need somewhere around one ton of capacity. This gives us a basic place to start, but we need more information to provide more accurate AC sizing.
The structural features of your home also play a role in AC sizing. The height of your ceilings can affect a Manual J load calculation. Whether your home has one story or multiple is also information we will use in our calculations. Another aspect that affects our numbers is the type of foundation your home has.
It’s necessary for us to consider our local climate zone. Our technicians consider the average high and low temperatures of summer days and nights. We will also look at typical summer humidity levels and whether you use humidity-controlling equipment. Looking at prior years’ climate history ensures your system will be able to operate through the worst of the heat and humidity.
Another aspect that goes into our Manual J load calculation involves the characteristics of your home. For example, we review the level of insulation throughout your residence. We are specifically looking at R-value, which measures conductive heat flow resistance. Things like the type of material, density, and the thickness of the insulation affect this value. The better the quality of the insulation, the higher the R-value will be. With high numbers, your air conditioner will be able to run less to keep your home cool.
It’s also beneficial to evaluate the surroundings of your home. We will assess if there are trees that provide shade. Additionally, we will note if your home receives full sun all day.
The number of windows on your residence is an important consideration when installing new AC. Cooling demand can increase when there are more windows. In many instances, these are the windows that obtain light during the afternoon hours. The cooling load has the potential to increase by as much as 30% on west-facing windows.
AC sizing involves accounting for the heat that your major appliances generate. For example, your refrigerator is an appliance that is always running and generating heat. We will need to account for that in our calculation. Other appliances that can impact your interior temperature include your oven, TV, and dishwasher. The location of these appliances and devices matters. If several of them are near your thermostat, this can impact cooling performance and comfort.
Top Problems Oversized Units Cause
Installing the wrong size of air conditioner in your home can lead to numerous issues. A unit that is too large can result in inconsistent cooling. You may also experience high levels of humidity within your home.
High levels of humidity can cause more than just a feeling of dampness. It increases the risk of mold growing in your home. In many cases, this mold can grow throughout your ductwork and then circulate as your HVAC system runs. Mold exposure can increase allergies and asthma, cause chronic headaches, and negatively impact sleep quality. It’s important that you avoid circulating mold spores through your residence.
An air conditioner that is too big can reduce the quality of your indoor air. Since larger systems typically don’t run very long, less air will move through your system’s filter. As a result, allergens and dust will remain in your air rather than getting filtered out. When these particles continue to circulate through your home, your allergies may flare up. You may also notice an increase in upper respiratory issues.
Short cycling is another common problem you can face if your air conditioner is too large for your house. You can detect short cycling when your AC shuts off and turns on in rapid increments. For the sake of comparison, a normal AC runs in a cycle of 10 to 20 minutes at a time.
Oversized air conditioners can experience equipment strain. Parts like the fan motor and compressor usually experience the most wear and tear. The constant damage that short cycling can cause leads to breakdowns. It can also result in an early system failure.
Because of the sheer size of a large AC unit, it’s common to experience loud sounds during operation. These models produce more noise because they move more air than the ductwork can handle. This can result in noises that sound like wind or even rattling. An AC that is too large and unbalanced can cause vibrating noises to occur. Even though modern models are made to be ultra quiet, incorrect sizing can compromise the peacefulness of your residence.
Bigger AC Units Aren’t Better
Contrary to what some HVAC companies may try to tell you, a bigger air conditioner is not better. Some companies try to upsell bigger products. They do this because it puts more money in their pockets, though this isn’t a reputable selling practice. At Pro Heating and Cooling, Inc., you can count on us to provide honest recommendations for AC equipment. We will perform accurate calculations based on the information we gather from you and our findings. This helps to ensure you receive a unit that is a great fit for your residence. Additionally, it also lessens the chance of costly breakdowns and repair bills, saving you money long-term.
Schedule Service Today
Our team at Pro Heating and Cooling, Inc. will work with you to determine the right size AC unit for your home. In addition to sizing, we also offer expert AC installation services. To restore comfort and ease the financial burden of a new air conditioner, we offer financing options on approved credit. As a locally owned and operated business, you can count on us to tailor our services to match your needs. Contact our trustworthy team at Pro Heating and Cooling, Inc. in Hillsboro today for all your AC sizing needs.
