Whether you’re purchasing your first HVAC system or considering getting a replacement, there are many factors to consider. One that plays a key role in every aspect of your system’s performance and price is its overall size. Below, we’ll discuss the importance of proper HVAC sizing and how to ensure you get it right the first time.
What Is HVAC Sizing?
HVAC sizing refers to the size of your new heating or cooling unit. Each system will have a designated size that will determine how much hot or cold air it can produce for a given space. You need a system that will adequately heat or cool your home to ensure optimal household comfort.
Oversized Units
The thought that bigger is always better doesn’t apply to the HVAC world. If you purchase a system that’s too large, it will create many issues for your home. One issue is that it may short short-cycled, creating unnecessary wear and tear on the unit.
Short cycling will also waste excess energy. During the monsoon season, short cycling won’t allow your air conditioner to run long enough to adequately remove the excess humidity from the air inside your home. This will leave your home overly humid and uncomfortable to be in.
It’s also important to note that larger units cost more money to purchase. If you’re purchasing a unit that’s too large for your home’s heating or cooling demands, you’re simply spending more money than you need to.
Undersized Units
Just like a unit that’s too big will create problems for your home and comfort, so will an HVAC unit that’s too small. An undersized heating or cooling system will struggle to keep your home at your desired indoor temperature. This will result in constant run times, which will increase your energy bills.
Furthermore, this excessive running will cause excessive wear and tear on the internal components of your HVAC system. This will drastically shorten its lifespan and require a premature replacement. Even worse, the only way to solve household comfort issues due to an undersized heating or cooling system is to replace it with a larger one.
What Factors Influence Proper Sizing?
When one of our HVAC technicians comes to your home to assess it for a new system installation, they’ll consider multiple factors when selecting the appropriate size unit. One of the biggest and most well-known is your home’s total square footage. The larger your home’s footprint, the bigger your heating or cooling system will need to be.
While this is an important factor, it isn’t the only one to consider. The quality of your household insulation is another big factor. The higher the R-value of your home’s insulation, the better it will be at controlling your indoor temperature. There are many types of insulation available, with many homes having fiberglass insulation. This type of insulation has a high R-value and is affordable to install.
Other key factors to consider are your local climate zone, window and door placement, sun exposure, heat-generating appliances and how many people live in your home. Our HVAC installers will use the Manual J calculation, which is a precise formula for determining the appropriate unit size.
Tonnage and BTUs
All home cooling systems have a tonnage rating that depicts their ability to cool. One ton is equal to 12,000 BTUs per hour. A typical household needs an air conditioner between one and a half to five tons.
Home heating and air conditioning systems are given a specific BTU rating. The higher the BTU rating, the greater the heating or cooling capacity of the unit. When our technicians do the Manual J calculation, they’ll be determining the appropriate BTU rating for your new HVAC system.
Common Sizing Mistakes You Want to Avoid
Because getting the wrong size HVAC system can be such a costly mistake, it only makes sense to understand some of the most common sizing mistakes that people make so you can avoid them. One of the very first is only ordering a unit based on the total square footage of your household.
While this will certainly get you in the ballpark, it won’t provide you with an exact unit size. Another big mistake is simply replacing your existing heating or cooling system with the same size unit. Things change over time.
For example, you may have increased your home’s living space with an addition, your insulation may be deteriorating or you may have put in more energy-efficient windows. It’s necessary to always have a new load calculation done every time you upgrade your heating or cooling unit to ensure it matches your needs at the time.
The Many Benefits of a Properly-Sized HVAC System
Getting an appropriately-sized HVAC system is an absolute must to reap benefits. Below, we’ll describe some of the many benefits of ensuring your new unit matches your home’s heating or cooling demands.
Even Indoor Temperature
One of the biggest benefits of a properly-sized HVAC system is that you can enjoy a more even indoor air temperature. Undersized units can leave your home uncomfortable and provide inconsistent heating or cooling. The right-sized unit will ensure your family is comfortable all year long.
Lower Energy Bills
No homeowner wants to overpay for their energy bills. An appropriately-sized HVAC system will ensure that you don’t. A new unit could help to lower your energy bills as compared to your older system.
Longer HVAC Lifespan
A new heating or cooling system can be a costly investment for any homeowner. You likely want to ensure that your new system lasts as long as possible so you can get more for your money. A properly-sized system will ensure the longest lifespan possible. An oversized or undersized unit will have a shorter lifespan due to excessive running or short cycling.
Better Humidity Control
When monsoon season hits, humidity levels can increase greatly and leave you feeling stuffy and uncomfortable. An AC unit that’s appropriately sized for your home can ensure that your indoor humidity level stays in check to keep you comfortable and safe.
Reduce Breakdown Risk
Having the right size heater or air conditioner for your home means it’s unlikely to break down as often. A unit that’s oversized or undersized will undoubtedly lead to more system breakdowns. No one likes being stuck with a malfunctioning heating or cooling system during the worst of the year’s temperature extremes.
Ensures Active Warranty and Rebates
Installing a new HVAC system in your home can come with many great rebates. To qualify for a lot of these rebates, you’ll need to show paperwork with the documented Manual J report from one of our HVAC technicians. Additionally, your unit must be appropriately sized to maintain its warranty coverage.
Reliable HVAC Installation Service
Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical offers reliable HVAC installation service for the Glendale, AZ, community. We can also assist with all your heating and cooling repair, tune-up, and replacement needs. Call us today to book your next service consultation with one of our helpful HVAC technicians. We offer financing on approved credit to help you budget for your next HVAC installation.
