This will make sure your system can handle the load on days with extremely high or low temperatures. Just beware of getting too big of a unit, because it will heat or cool your home too quickly and then shut off. This frequent on and off cycle will cause uneven temperatures and higher energy bills. Need more advice? Want helpful HVAC tips and tricks sent to your inbox? Get the Newsletter. The Manual J calculation is the most precise measurement available because it considers factors like: Square footage Climate zone Ductwork Number and style of windows Natural shade or sunlight Quality and amount of insulation Number of people using the space Heat-generating appliances Many utility companies offer a free energy audit that will provide you with your Manual J calculation — just ask.
The consultant will also consider the capacity and functionality of the existing HVAC system and the climate of your area.
Once the assessment is complete, the consultant will give you an estimate to consider for several unit types. They will also help you understand how each unit can cool your home and will then help you make a decision based on your cooling needs and budget.
What you can do as the homeowner is make a list of issues you currently have with your air conditioning unit and discuss what you find with the consultant. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:. Identified problems can help the consultant better determine a unit choice for your home and if a protection plan is a good choice for you.
Installing the correct size air conditioning unit for your home makes a significant impact on your comfort and energy bills. You might think that bigger is always better, but that is not the case. If you purchase an air conditioner that is too large, it will cool your space too rapidly. This will cause it to continuously shut off and turn back on, which leads to lower efficiency and higher costs and sometimes more air conditioner repairs.
When talking with your HVAC expert you may hear some different terms like load and capacity that could confuse you. A load is how much cooling a home needs, while the capacity is how much cooling the air conditioning system can supply. A load is influenced by the house, its orientation to the sun, how many occupants it has, and how many heat-generating appliances are in the home.
A cooling load is calculated through a Manual J calculation to make sure that the proper air conditioning system is installed with the right cooling capacity to remove heat from your home. Square footage should not be the only factor to consider when sizing your air conditioning system. Your neighbor may have the same square footage as your home but you might have more windows facing the afternoon sun or a shade tree on the south side. Those kinds of differences are going to change how you calculate the size of your air conditioner.
Home shape: A compact home takes less energy to cool while a sprawling ranch home will have more area for the cool air to dissipate. Windows : Windows are not good insulators. If you have large windows throughout your home they will impact the amount of BTUs needed for sufficient cooling.
It will also matter if those windows are full sun in the afternoon or have a shade tree near them. Insulation: A well-insulated home will need fewer BTUs to keep your home cool than an older uninsulated house that loses air through the walls.
Climate: In a warmer climate an air conditioner will work harder because the hot outside air and the desired indoor air temperature are so widely different. Homes in northern regions are going to need fewer BTUs to keep the home at the desired temperature than homes in the southern regions. Ceiling Height: The total square footage of your home is not the only factor to consider.
The total amount of air volume inside your home has an impact on the BTUs required to keep your home at the optimal temperature. It is the first hot day of summer. No problem.
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