What’s Involved in Air Conditioner Sizing
It is important to understand that the sizing of your air conditioner greatly impacts many factors. Considering these factors in air conditioner sizing when replacing your unit can save you money and frustration in the long run.
Many people do not understand the sizing requirements for cooling a house. The typical calculation for air conditioner sizing to a home is approximately one ton for every five hundred square feet of living space. In most two-story houses you would benefit by having two systems, one for each floor. With just one system on the bottom floor, trying to cool the upstairs efficiently could be driving up your energy costs.
Another factor of incorrect air conditioner sizing impacts the utility cost of operating your system. It costs more per day to keep your system running more often in order to cool a larger space. If your system is undersized then your house will not cool to the proper temperature on hot days. Your system could run continuously in order to cool your house simply because it is not adequate for the square footage. This could cause a more frequent need for repairs due to the system not shutting off or cycling properly.
By comparison, if your system is oversized it could cause your air conditioner to over cycle which means it will turn off and on too frequently. By not running long enough, the system cannot properly dehumidify your home. This could cause poor air quality and excessive humidity inside the home.
To summarize, the important aspects of correct air conditioner sizing are energy costs, performance, air cooling and air quality. All of these items need to be considered when purchasing a home with an existing unit, or upgrading your air conditioner system.
