July 5, 2017
The heat of summer is finally here, which has many homeowners in and around Lawton, OK wondering whether or not they're prepared to deal with the rising temperatures. Perhaps you have an air conditioner installed that’s simply not cooling the way you’d like it to, or maybe you’re in the market for a new unit and don’t know where to start. These are common issues, and they generally come down to something we refer to in the home performance industry as “right-sizing.”
If you’re looking to create a cooler environment this summer but aren’t sure which moves are the right ones to make and which will set you back, the team at Pippin Brothers is here to help.
Why “Right-Sizing” an HVAC System Matters
It stands to reason why a small, underpowered air conditioner will run into problems trying to cool a large space with high ceilings or a lot of windows and skylights. After all, most homeowners understand the concept of proportionate versus disproportionate systems, and scenarios such as this can make it quite clear that the size of your air conditioner truly does play into home comfort (or lack thereof). What many homeowners do to compensate, however, is install air conditioners that are way too big for the areas they’re trying to cool, which causes a whole host of problems in and of itself.
You might think that an oversized AC will be more than enough to get the job done, but the reality of the situation is that it simply won’t cycle properly. It will short-cycle and satisfy the thermostat too quickly while not delivering even temperatures and dehumidification throughout the house. This is due to discrepancies between the unit’s power and the actual need for cooling, which is typically determined by the size of the space. Too small, and the AC won’t work properly—too large, and it will cost you excessive amounts of money to run, while also significantly shortening its lifespan. Additionally, the ductwork has to be sized properly to handle the size air conditioner that is installed. If the ductwork cannot handle the airflow required to cool the space, the indoor coil may freeze and damage the equipment.
The solution? Right-sizing.
Factors in Right-Sizing
A number of different elements factor into the right-sizing of an air conditioning unit. The square footage of living area, construction materials, insulation values in walls, floors and ceilings, the appliance heat load, number of people, amount of glass, etc. all factor into the heat gain of the home. An AC unit must be sized to remove the heat and humidity for the hottest design temperature for our area of the country. The type, efficiency and placement of a unit can all make a difference when it comes to performance, as can placement and presence or lack of ductwork. For homes that lack ductwork, installing mini-split heat pumps may be a good solution, especially given the fact that they can both cool a home during the summer and heat it during the winter months, but they too must be properly sized
Pippin Brothers—Your AC Sizing Specialists
We get a lot of calls this time of year from customers who just can’t figure out how to dial-in a comfortable home environment. While these types of issues can arise for plenty of reasons, many of these same callers are operating air conditioners that are simply too small for their homes. By installing a new AC that’s perfectly sized to fit the needs of your home and ensuring the ductwork is properly sized, designed and installed to handle the new AC unit, you can finally create a cool, comfortable space to enjoy all summer—no matter how high the temperatures outside continue to rise.
Oftentimes, many homeowners don’t need to replace their air conditioner, they just need to have their duct system modified to allow their current system to optimize its performance potential. This can save you the expense of a new AC and thousands of dollars on your energy bills for years to come. Give us a call and we can pop by to provide an assessment of your home and duct system FREE of charge to ensure our comfort all summer.
