6 Factors That Affect Your Air Conditioner’s Size

Air conditioners need to be properly sized before they are installed. And we don’t mean physical size, though obviously, you need a unit that can fit into the appropriate spot in your home. We’re talking about the relative power levels of the system.

If the system is underpowered, it will struggle to cool your home. That much is self-evident. But it may surprise you to learn that an overpowered system can be just as damaging: short-cycling on and off multiple times throughout the day, and wasting energy as well as adding stress to the system. Summers in the Austin area are too brutal for such difficulties. A trained Manor HVAC professional can measure your air conditioner’s size, applying these 6 factors to determine its exact power levels.

• Physical space. Physical space is the base measurement, with about 12,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units) per hour for every 500 square feet of space you need cooling.
• Sunlight exposure. Homes with big windows—especially with an eastern or western view—will let in a lot of sunlight, which means you need a more powerful unit to cool the home.
• Insulation. Insulation keeps the heat outside from coming in, so if your home has a lot of it, you don’t need an air conditioner as powerful.
• Family members. Homes with big families tend to generate more heat, necessitating a bigger unit.
• Kitchens. Kitchens generate a lot of heat when cooking or washing dishes. Depending upon your home, it will require a more powerful unit.
• Energy Efficiency. If your home has cracked under the doors or around the windows, cold spots, drafts, or similar factors, it needs an air conditioner sized to address them properly.

The experts at Intelligent Air Services have the necessary skills and experience to size your new air conditioner properly before installation, making sure you have the right system to do the job.