As the weather continues to get warmer, homeowners start to think about air conditioners to stay cool for the summer. You might be seriously considering getting an air conditioner for the first time, or perhaps your existing central air conditioner isn’t cooling your home the way you think it should be.
You might think that there is something wrong with your air conditioning unit, that it’s broken or clogged in some way. However, the answer may be much simpler: it may be too small!
You might be surprised to learn that size does matter when it comes to cooling your home. Read on to find out more, and why you might be spending more money than you need to be.
Why Does the Size of the AC Matter?
One thing that many people don’t think about is the size of the unit they’re getting. Different size spaces need different-sized air conditioners to properly cool the space.
An air conditioner that is too small for the space won’t have the capacity to cool the space efficiently. You’ll end up too hot and you’ll have spent the money on the AC unit for nothing. Plus, your unit will be running constantly and working harder to try and cool the space, meaning it uses more energy, leading to higher utility costs.
Meanwhile, an AC unit that is too large for the space will be far too powerful and will end up using more energy than necessary to cool your house. This leads to much higher utility costs that you could easily avoid. Additionally, it can lead to more wear and tear on your unit, as it will be constantly turning on and off.
How Do I Know What Size Air Conditioner I Need?
The first thing we need to look at is how air conditioning sizes are determined.
An AC’s cooling capacity is measured in how many British Thermal Units (BTUs) it can remove in an hour. A one-ton air conditioner can generally remove 12,000 BTUs, and a two-ton unit 24,000, and so on.
Household air conditioning units generally start at 1.5 tons and increase by half-ton increments. Unless you own a very large home, you likely won’t need anything larger than 5 tons.
The most obvious factor you need to consider is the size of the space to be cooled. However, there are other factors to consider as well, such as
Amount of direct sun exposure
Quality of ductwork
Quality of insulation in your home
Quality and number of windows or exterior doors
Usage of heat-generating appliances (ovens, toasters, etc.)
Materials used in construction of the home (brick, wood, etc.)
To figure out what size of air conditioner your home needs, your best bet is to contact a professional at Black Forest Plumbing for a quote to find the right AC system.
Get the Right Size of Air Conditioner for Your Home
At Black Forest Plumbing, our professional air conditioning technicians can analyze all the factors involved and recommend the right size air conditioner for you. This will allow you to get the most bang for your buck, without any needless waste of energy.
Call Black Forest Plumbing today and schedule a consultation throughout the GTA including Toronto, Barrie and Newmarket.