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The chances are pretty good that the furnace and/or the air conditioner you have in your home is oversized. This is not merely a random assumption; there have been several national surveys conducted that have found that more than half of all HVAC contractors do not take the proper steps to size heating and cooling systems appropriately. The most common mistake with sizing is over-sizing.
Bigger is NOT Better?
Having an oversized system poses many problems. An oversized system runs quite inefficiently. Not only does this cost you more to operate, but oversized system create temperature swings that can make your home feel uncomfortable. It is unfortunate, but most homes today are heated and cooled by equipment that is too big for the home? and when an air conditioner or heat pump system is not the proper size for a home, an array of problems can result: Temperatures might be uneven. Equipment might not run long enough to properly control humidity. Equipment that is not running at peak performance often encounters more maintenance problems over time. And the money you think you might be saving may be reduced, because with equipment that is too big, youre essentially paying to heat or cool space that isnt there. In addition to wasted energy and uncomfortable temperature swings, improperly sized equipment can lead to humid conditions that can cause to mold growth and promote dust mite growth. Sensitive groups of people who suffer with allergies or asthma can really be troubled by these conditions.
To understand how a heating or cooling system should be sized, it is first important to understand incorrect sizing methods. Most installers do nothing more than check the label on your existing unit that states the BTU output per hour. Then, he or she simply sells you a comparable sized option, or even worse, one that is larger! In many cases, the installer may use oversimplified rules of thumb that follow arbitrary guidelines. These are absolutely unacceptable ways to size a system because they do not consider many issues your exact home may contain (such as air flow, number of occupants, insulation types, glazing, solar orienationetc.). The problem with using the current system size as a guide is that many existing homes have systems that are very oversized to begin with ? sometimes by as much as two to four times. Most homeowners make improvements to their home over the course of years. New windows, doors, insulation, weather stripping, and caulking make the home more efficient. This means you may not need the same sized heating or cooling system that was originally installed when the home was constructed.
The correct way to size a heating or cooling system is to the sizing standard developed by the Air Conditionion Contractors Association (ACCA) called Manual-D for duct design and Manual-J for heat loss and equipment sizing. It is imperative that homeowners choose a contractor that utilizes these methods prior to agreeing to any new system installation. If you are also considering having a new duct system installed your contractor should make use of manual D guidelines. If you are uncertain as to whether or not your contractor used one of these methods, or if you just want a bit of verification that the calculations are correct, do not hesitate to get a second opinion.
Sandium is a leader in home energy audits and would love to hear your story ?
For more great tips please visit your Palo Alto CA AC Repair experts.
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