Sizing Up Your HVAC

Air conditioning. Those two words can bring all of us complete joy in those sweltering summer months. However, just like your cars, clothing and homes, one size does NOT fit all when it comes to your air conditioning unit.

Too Much Of A Good Thing. It may not seem possible on those hot days, but you CAN have too much air conditioning. A unit that is too large for your living space can actually cause mold and mildew problems on the interior of your home. If your unit is too large, it will only cycle (or run) for a few minutes at a time then cut off before it quickly starts the cycle over again. A quick run cycle doesn’t provide your unit adequate time to remove water vapor from the air. If this happens you will likely begin to see condensation build up leading to possible mold and mildew on your windows, furniture, and even baseboards.

Another sign that your unit may be too large for your home is an increased electric bill. When your unit cuts on and off frequently it uses more electricity – a factor you will see played out on your next power bill. With a too large unit, you’ll also likely feel inconsistencies in the temperature of your home due to short cycles and lack of time for the air to properly distribute through your home.

Bring On The Air. While having a unit that’s too large can cause problems, a unit that is too small brings its own set of issues. There’s nothing worse that sitting in your home on a warm July afternoon and just not being able to get cool. In order to have a system that will effectively remove the hot air from your home, remove the moisture, and blow cool air back through your vents, your unit needs an appropriate BTU (British Thermal Units). The larger your home or business, the higher BTU needed to remove the warm air and start the process over. You will often hear air conditioning units referred to as “tons”. Each ton is 12,000 BTUS. One of the main factors that we consider at Thornton’s when installing a new or replacement unit is the size of the home, insulation, and the total square feet in the living space to make sure the appropriate size unit, or how many tons, is recommended.

Another sign that your unit is too small is that it runs nonstop. As previously mentioned, your unit should ideally run around 25 minutes between cycles. If it’s constantly running to keep up, your home will never be properly cooled to the appropriate temperature AND you’ll notice an increase in your electric bill.

At Thornton’s we offer free consultations and estimates on new any new HVAC units. Our trained, experienced technicians are happy to answer any of your questions, evaluate your home and recommend the proper heating and cooling equipment for your home or business. Call us today and let us size up your HVAC system.

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