With summer slowly giving way to fall and air conditioning season winding down here in Westlake, OH, you may be considering a new system to replace your older, worn-out AC unit. Now is the right time to plan for an air conditioning replacement and with a good company on your side, it can end up saving you a great deal in monthly costs. But laymen in the market for a new system can make a very common mistake: equating the most powerful new air conditioner on the market as the best. It may seem counter-intuitive, but that isn’t actually the case. Bigger isn’t necessarily better with a new air conditioner. Here’s a brief discussion of why.
Short Cycling Can Damage Your System
If your air conditioner is too powerful for the space it’s supposed to cool, it will cool the air down too quickly. Again, that sounds like a good thing, but it actually isn’t. When it cools the home too fast, it tends to start the air conditioner up again just as fast, engaging in a process known as short-cycling. Air conditioners use far more energy starting up and shutting down than they do simply running. So an overpowered unit will burn unnecessary energy as it constantly switches on and off, with an attendant rise in monthly bills. More importantly, short cycling increases the risk of breakdown, and if left unattended may even shorten the life of your system.
Proper Sizing Is Key
The solution to this issue is proper sizing from a trained technician. He or she will assess the space of your home, taking into account various factors such as sunlight exposure and the presence of insulation in the walls. That way, you’ll have a system that follows the Goldilocks Rule: neither too big nor too small but just right. Your air conditioner will perform more efficiently and last longer as a result.
For questions about air conditioning installation or to beginning planning your new system, give the pros at Westland Heating and Air a call today!
