When we talk about the “size” of your HVAC system, we don’t mean the footprint of the air conditioner unit or furnace. We mean the overall system capacity, which is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). You need to have the right size system for your home. Otherwise, it’ll operate inefficiently and won’t be able to meet your heating and cooling needs.
PDS Plumbing and Air is your local resource for reliable air conditioning throughout the Central Valley, Southern California, and the Inland Empire. If you believe you have an oversized AC unit, if your air conditioner has stopped working, or if you need heat or AC repair, you can count on our experienced HVAC technicians to take care of it for you quickly.
Why Proper HVAC Sizing Matters for Your Home
Proper HVAC sizing matters because it affects your home’s energy efficiency and comfort, which is why a precise HVAC load calculation is crucial.
The best way to choose an air conditioner that’s sized appropriately for your home is to schedule a professional consultation. HVAC experts understand the many factors that affect the proper AC size for your home, like:
- Home size and layout: The square footage of your home and the number of rooms you have will affect HVAC system sizing requirements.
- Door and window size, installation, and orientation: Windows are a major source of heat gain and heat loss. It’s important to consider how they’re installed and insulated, which direction they’re facing, and what type of windows you have (e.g., single vs. double paned) to accurately calculate the optimal HVAC system size.
- Ceiling heights: A home with high ceilings will require more airflow to maintain a consistent, comfortable indoor temperature. An undersized system will struggle to meet your needs.
- Insulation: Good insulation in the walls, ceilings, and floors will hold heated or cooled air where you want it, reducing the BTUs required to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.
- Appliances: Appliances generate heat. If this isn’t factored in when choosing your HVAC system, you may end up with an undersized, inefficient unit.
- Home occupancy: The number of people living in your home impacts the amount of body heat in the home, as well as the amount of time people spend inside the house, affecting the total hours the system needs to run per day.
- Local climate: The Southern California climate generally requires heavy AC use in the summer, and the winters get chilly enough for the heat to be on throughout the fall and winter months. We’ll help you find a system that can maintain comfort, even during the hottest heatwave.
Common Symptoms of an Undersized AC Unit
The following are some of the most common undersized AC unit symptoms.
Running constantly
A system that’s too small will struggle to keep your house cool and will work nonstop to try and pull heat from the air.
Insufficient or uneven cooling
If your AC is on but not cooling the room, it likely doesn’t have sufficient capacity for your home’s needs and can’t maintain a constant, cool temperature. This may cause warm spots in your house while overworking the system.
High energy bills
An air conditioner that’s too small will use more energy to meet your cooling needs, raising your energy bills.
Frequent breakdowns
An undersized cooling system will experience increased wear and tear as it works overtime to keep you comfortable, leading to breakdowns and costly repairs.
Excess humidity
Your air conditioner pulls moisture out of the air along with heat, but if it’s undersized, it won’t be able to effectively dehumidify the space, resulting in excess humidity in the air.
Signs Your AC System Might Be Oversized
Wondering if your air conditioner is too big for your home? Look for the following signs that your AC system is oversized.
Short cycling
If your air conditioner’s too big, it’ll cool the space too quickly, hitting the desired temperature before the system can do a full, normal cooling cycle. This causes it to turn off too soon, then it needs to turn back on quickly as the temperature rises again. These frequent on-and-off cycles reduce cooling efficiency and often cause problems within the system due to excess wear and tear.
High humidity
Because the oversized AC turns off and on rapidly while running, it doesn’t have enough time to fully dehumidify the air in your home, which makes the air feel uncomfortably damp and clammy and, over time, may lead to mold or mildew growth or damage to wooden furniture.
High energy bills
Just like undersized units, oversized air conditioners also lead to high energy bills, as the system works harder to maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature.
Loud operation
A bigger air conditioner will pump out more air per second, which may be loud for several reasons. It might rattle or whistle as it travels through the vents, while the quick on-and-off cycles will cause more noise overall, like clicking, vibrations, or humming.
There are a few steps you can take to mitigate problems that occur due to having an oversized air conditioner, like using a smart thermostat, adding a dehumidifier to your home, or adding more ductwork to your home, but the best solution is to replace your unit with an optimally-sized system instead.
What Size AC Do I Need for My Home?
Assessing these factors isn’t something a typical homeowner will know how to do, but that’s where we come in! At PDS, our expert techs are available to come to your house and assess your needs. We help you find the right size AC unit and the perfect system to suit your needs, with options like smart-home integration, programmable thermostats, air quality control options, and more. We also offer helpful financing options, so you don’t have to compromise or efficient home cooling.
What Happens if You Ignore Improper Sizing?
There are several consequences you may face by ignoring your improperly sized air conditioning, like:
- Reduced comfort: If your AC can’t deliver reliably cool air, it’ll leave you too cold, too warm, or feeling clammy due to excess humidity.
- High energy bills: An improperly sized AC means more energy use. While replacing your air conditioner comes with an up-front investment, you’ll enjoy long-term energy savings.
- Shorter lifespan: Heavy wear and tear will eventually cause the system to burn out, often years sooner than a properly sized air conditioner would.
Contact PDS for All Your HVAC Needs
PDS Plumbing and Air is a veteran-owned, local HVAC service company specializing in services including air conditioner installations, repairs, and expert AC maintenance and tune-ups. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergencies throughout Central California, Southern California, and the Inland Empire.
With our expertise and dedication to customer service, you can always trust our team with your indoor comfort and air quality. Contact us today to schedule a professional consultation appointment for proper air conditioner sizing.
