So, you’re looking to have an air conditioner installed. At least, that’s probably why you’ve stumbled across this blog post. If you have the budget for it, you’re probably prepared to buy the biggest and best AC you can find. That’s great! As long as it’s not too big.
Yes, that’s right, an air conditioning system can actually be too large for the space it’s installed in. Homeowners often don’t consider this–they understand that an air conditioner can be too small, but don’t really think about it the other way around. An air conditioner that’s too big–referred to as overpowered–can be just as detrimental to efficiency and your home comfort as one that’s too small–called underpowered. Read on to learn more.
The Problem with an Undersized/Underpowered Air Conditioner
As you likely understand already, an undersized and underpowered cooling system just won’t be able to do its job and keep up with your household’s cooling demands. An underpowered air conditioner will have to run much longer than an appropriately sized system would, which is inefficient. This wears down on the system, resulting in high energy bills and an air conditioner that can fail on you completely a lot sooner than it otherwise should.
Additionally, an underpowered system simply can’t keep your living space as comfortable as it should or as you’d like. During our sweltering summer days, you can see why this would be a problem, right? It’s better to ensure that you have a properly sized air conditioner installed right from the beginning.
The Problem with an Oversized/Overpowered Air Conditioner
Okay, so now what about an air conditioner that’s too big? You may believe that this is better for keeping your home cool. However, it’s actually very inefficient. This is because optimal AC efficiency happens through continued operation and regular, timed cycles.
When your air conditioner is too big for your living space, the desired temperature you have on the thermostat will be reached too fast, before your air conditioner has the chance to really complete a full cooling cycle. This problem, with the system turning on and off rapidly, is known as short-cycling.
Short-cycling isn’t something that any homeowner wants to deal with. Not only is it really inefficient, but it causes strain on your air conditioning system, too, and causes wear and tear to accumulate faster. The only way to really fix this problem–that is, short-cycling due to an oversized system–is to actually replace the system with one that’s adequately matched for your home.
How to Find the Right Sized Air Conditioner
So, how do you make sure you’re matched with the best air conditioner for your needs? By contacting our team! We will go over your options with you, and then conduct what’s called a cooling load calculation, to determine the appropriate size for your new AC system. This is the best–the only–way to guarantee that your home is matched with the right air conditioner.
For quality and reliable AC installation in Sacramento, contact Sierra Pacific Home & Comfort, Inc.