Once I purchased my first home, I realized that I needed to do my part in caring for my home appliances. In addition to reading the user manuals for my kitchen appliances and state-of-the-art plumbing system, I realized that I also needed to do a little research about HVAC. Because I had no experience with HVAC systems, I called out a professional to teach me a thing or two. It was fascinating to talk with him, and I was able to take notes about all kinds of important topics, such as maintenance, troubleshooting, and even shopping for a new system. This blog is all about understanding HVAC guidelines.
Understanding HVAC Guidelines
Why You Should Buy The Right Sized Air Conditioner For Your Home
Marilou Girard
Is your current air conditioner not performing like it used to? You may be experiencing issues with warm air, hot rooms, or a unit that is constantly running. Do not assume that the solution to this problem is to buy an air conditioning unit that is bigger and more powerful since it may actually be detrimental to the HVAC system in your home if it is not the proper size. Here are a few reasons why you need to get the right sized air conditioner for your home:
Problems With Small ACs
It's possible that you have drastically changed the square footage in your home and that your air conditioner cannot keep up with demand. This may happen if you recently added an addition and tapped into the existing HVAC ductwork, or finished your basement and are cooling off the new space.
All of these new branches of your ductwork are going to cause a problem since the air conditioner is now too small for your home. You'll notice that the air conditioner will run for longer periods of time to cool down the larger space, and that airflow may be disrupted to certain rooms due to all the additional branches of ductwork you have made.
Have a professional come out to your home to properly size a new unit.
Problems With Large ACs
On the flip side, there are problems that can occur when you buy an air conditioner that is too large. This can happen when the homeowner believes the solution to a poorly performing air conditioner is to get one that is larger.
The main problem you'll encounter with a larger air condition is that the unit frequently turns off and on. This happens because air is flowing into the rooms too quickly, and the starting and stopping will put a lot of wear and tear on the compressor. Ideally, you want the air conditioner to run for a while to cool off your home before it turns off for a longer period of time.
Air that is blowing too quickly through the vents can also cause issues with condensation. The air conditioner may unintentionally be causing mold to form on the outside of your ductwork that is hidden in your walls. You won't be able to see the problem, but you could be breathing in the mold without knowing it.
Always have an air conditioner properly sized for your house before you have it installed.
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