Getting A Brand New Air Conditioner? Make Sure To Get The Right Size Unit
Did your old central air conditioner recently stop working, and now you need to get a new one? You may think that swapping out an old unit for a new one is a simple job, but there are actually several things that can go wrong that you need to be aware of. Here is what you need to know about purchasing an air conditioner that's too big or too small.
Why Size Matters
Air conditioners are rated in terms of tons, which is essentially how much heat the unit can remove from the air and push through the vents of your home. You may think that in this situation, a more powerful air conditioner is going to be best, but that is not the case. It will be a good idea to have your home sized by a professional HVAC contractor to determine the right size unit for your home.
Oversized AC Problems
If you purchase an air conditioner that is too big, often referred to as oversized, you are going to have several problems. First of all, the unit is going to be more powerful than necessary and cause your energy bills to be much higher than they would with a correctly sized unit. Moving more air through vents that are not designed for it can lead to the vents being too cold. Air gets trapped, causing condensation to form on the outside of the metal ductwork. This can actually cause mold to grow inside the ductwork or in places behind walls where condensation has formed on the outside of the ductwork. You'll also notice that the air conditioner will short cycle, where it turns on for a short amount of time and then turns off right away.
Undersized AC Problems
An undersized air conditioner can cause a different set of problems. The unit will run longer to cool down your home, since it will struggle to reach the proper temperature in the room with your thermostat. This will also result in more energy usage, but for different reasons. You'll also find that your home is not nearly as comfortable as it could be due to a lack of cold air.
The best way to make sure that your air conditioner is the right size is to contact a local air conditioning service to do the work for you. They will not only get the correct size unit, but also make sure it's installed properly.
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