Why is the size of your HVAC system important?
February 14, 2023 By: One Way Heating & Cooling
Navigating the world of HVAC systems can be daunting for homeowners. When you need to find the perfect fit for your home, you may be tempted to look only at the price and quality. However, there is more that goes into choosing the right one! Calculating the load of your home, or the amount of heating and cooling required to maintain a comfortable temperature, is vital to finding the correct size HVAC system.
Why does the size of your HVAC system matter?
Why is this so important to find the right size hvac system? An HVAC system that is not sized properly will have a shorter lifespan due to its inefficiency. The lack of efficiency can also cause your energy bills to skyrocket.
Below, we’ll break down the common issues that can occur from an undersized or oversized system.
Risk of undersized system
To little power
While a smaller HVAC system is cheaper, it may not be worth the upfront savings. If it is too small for your home, it will constantly struggle to keep the temperature consistent and comfortable. Your home will not be cooled or heated properly, so you may end up investing in a supplementary heating or cooling unit. Don’t aim for a smaller price tag if you’ll have to spend more money down the road to compensate for the lack of efficiency.
Energy bill will be higher
If your HVAC system is too small to cool or heat your home, your energy bills can skyrocket. The system needs to work harder to try and meet the demand, it requires more electricity than it was designed to use. On very hot or cold days, you risk the chances of it overheating and shutting down completely! Even if you set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature, your system may never reach that desired comfort level.
Risk of oversized HVAC system
Too much power
When an HVAC system is oversized for a home, it will have too much power. This may sound like a good thing at first, but the last thing you want is a system that short cycles! Short cycling is when an HVAC system reaches the programmed temperature in a home too quickly, so the thermostat shuts the program down before running its complete cycle. Short-cycling increases wear and tear on the system, which results in less efficiency and a greater chance of a breakdown.
Lack of comfort
An oversized HVAC system can decrease your level of comfort. When you don’t benefit from gradual, even heating and cooling, you can end up with several hot or cold spots throughout your home. When you have a short cycling system, the air filtration time is reduced significantly. Reducing this time causes air filtration issues, which leads to dust and particles circulating through your indoor air. A properly sized system filters the air more efficiently to remove pollutants from your home. While you don’t want an undersized HVAC system that struggles to keep your home comfortable and causes energy bills to skyrocket, you also don’t want an oversized system because you risk the chances of it short cycling, which can lead to inefficiency and an eventual breakdown. A properly sized system will work more efficiently to heat or cool your home, not running too little or too much.
How to properly size an HVAC system
The energy an HVAC system uses to heat or cool your home is calculated in British Thermal Units (BTUs). Knowing the amount of BTUs it takes to heat and cool your home will determine what size system you need. It’s best if a trained professional determines the proper size to ensure you have precise measurements and find the perfect fit. Let One Way Heating and Cooling, LLC be your AC company in El Paso, Tx and request a quote today!