Everyone wants their home to be as comfortable as possible. This extends from the furnishings throughout the home to the interior temperature which is preferred to keep the homes. When looking at the size of homes, most people consider the number of square feet. However, when it comes to heating or cooling the air inside, it is important to consider the number of cubic feet, or volume, of the home. This is why size matters when selecting the right air conditioner for your home.
Most people don’t even think about the size of the units that heat and cool the homes. They simply take for granted that they will do the job. However, choosing a unit that is too small for the space being heated or cooled will result in energy bills that are outrageous because the unit has to run all the time. It can also result in not being able to reach the desired temperature because the unit is unable to move enough air to heat or cool the entire area.
Many people assume that having a unit that is too large for the area is acceptable because the unit will not have to run as much to maintain the desired temperature. Up to a point, this is true. However, if the unit is beyond a certain percentage too large for the area, it will move so much air that it creates air currents that can disrupt the home.
Imagine working on a stack of paperwork at the kitchen table. The AC comes on and wind coming from the nearest vent is so powerful that it blows the papers off the table and scatters them across the floor. This can also be dangerous if one has gas appliances because the air current may be strong enough to blow out pilot lights and leave gas leaking into the home.
In addition, larger units require more energy to operate. Therefore, while the unit may operate less time than a smaller one, the cost of operation may be higher. It is very important to balance the air flow so that the maximum efficiency is achieved in order to keep the system as cost-effective to operate as possible.
Under ideal conditions, homeowners should barely notice the operation of their air conditioner. Airflow and noise levels should at the lowest levels possible to achieve the desired temperature. For this reason, it is important to have a unit capable of moving the correct number of cubic feet of air per minute.
It is also essential to have the overall system balanced so that no single vent releases too much or too little air into the room it feeds. This is often accomplished through a series of dampers in the lines feeding each vent.
Technicians can come into the home and take measurements of flow at each vent to ensure the system is properly balanced. These measurements will also tell if space is being serviced by a unit that is too large or too small. Recommendations may be made to decide whether one should replace the existing system in order to gain maximum energy efficiency and comfort.
