Spring is right around the corner, and you know what that means! Allergy season, right?
Okay, well, yes. It’s allergy season and you should be sure to have the right indoor air quality system in place to mitigate your allergy symptoms while at home. We can help with that!
That’s actually not what we’re talking about today, though. We realize that this is the time of year that many homeowners throughout Salt Lake City and beyond start looking into their air conditioner options. Perhaps you have an aging system that’s just not cutting it anymore—it’s working inefficiently and costing you way too much money to operate. Or maybe you have a perfectly “fine” air conditioner, but you want to upgrade to an even better one because you’ve heard of the benefits of going ductless, or getting an inverter drive air conditioner.
We applaud your due diligence in starting this process now, before you need your air conditioner the most. But we do want to alert you to something that not too many homeowners consider—the size of your air conditioner matters. Read on to learn more!
Undersized and Underpowered Air Conditioners
Also referred to as underpowered an undersized air conditioning system will not be able to keep up with the cooling demands of your household. The small size will force your air conditioner to run longer than it should have to, only to unsuccessfully reach the desired temperature on your thermostat. As a result, you’ll be paying way too much for your energy bills.
Plus, there is comfort to consider. An undersized air conditioner simply won’t be able to keep household occupants comfy like a properly sized cooling system will. During our hot summer days, you can see why this would be a problem.
Oversized and Overpowered Air Conditioners
Many homeowners have the attitude of “bigger is better.” Unfortunately, this does not apply to your cooling system. Optimal air conditioning efficiency occurs through continued operation and regular cycles.
What happens when a cooling system is too big and too powerful for a home is that the desired temperature on the thermostat is reached too quickly, before your air conditioner has the opportunity to complete a full cooling cycle. This problem is known as short-cycling.
Short cycling is both the symptom of a problem—in this case, an overpowered AC system—and the cause of further problems. It exacerbates wear and tear, for starters. This means you’re going to find yourself paying for repair needs a lot more often than you would for a properly sized system. It also means your air conditioner is not going to last as long. A properly sized, installed, and well-maintained air conditioner can last about 10-15 years, but an air conditioner that has to struggle to do its job may only last half that lifespan.
How to Find the Right-Sized Air Conditioner
The way you find a properly sized air conditioner is by working with trained and experienced professionals who will conduct what’s called a cooling load on your home. We’ll look at factors such as the square footage of your home, how many windows and doors it has, the type and quality of insulation you have, and more. From there, we can help you make an informed decision on not only what size air conditioner to get, but even what type.
For expert AC installation in Salt Lake City, UT, contact us today and see what keeps our customers saying, “I Love My Design Comfort!”
