Springtime is a popular time of year to replace an older or outdated air conditioner with a new one. Doing so makes a lot of sense now, since it can help you enjoy the benefits of the new system all summer long. New air conditioners tend to be much more efficient than older ones, which means you’ll be able to run the new one the same amount as the old without it costing you quite so much. It also means you won’t have to worry about a sudden breakdown from an unreliable system.
Before installing your new system, however, you and your technician must answer some important questions about your home’s needs. In particular, the power output levels of the new air conditioner need to be carefully balanced against the details of your home. That can prove a lot trickier than it seems.
Overpowered Units Can Be Just as Problematic as Underpowered Ones
Obviously, you don’t want an underpowered air conditioner in your home for self-apparent reasons. It will simply run and run all day, running up your bills without every getting your home really cool. But most people don’t realize that an overpowered unit can be just as problematic as an underpowered one.
This can be a lot more difficult to keep in mind because it flies in the face of common sense. Don’t you want the system to be as powerful as you can afford so that it can cool the house quickly? Frankly speaking, you don’t. Air conditioners use a lot more power turning on and turning off than they do simply running, which is why you want them to run for at least fifteen minutes at a time whenever they turn on.
When that doesn’t happen they engage in a process known as short-cycling: cooling the home very quickly and shutting down, only to turn on again a few minutes later as the heat of the day warms your home again. Short cycling can be very wasteful, as well as subjecting the unit to unnecessary wear and tear. That often leads to breakdowns far sooner than you should have to deal with, as well as unnecessarily high cooling bills from the moment you turn your new system on.
Proper Sizing Prevents Problems
The best new system for your home follows what we like to call the Goldilocks Rule: neither too large nor too small, but just right. The best way to do that is to have your technician perform a thorough analysis for your house: starting with square footage, but including such qualities as sunlight exposure, double-paned windows and the presence of insulation. With those factors in mind, the technician can provide the optimum power levels for your new air conditioner and ensure that the system is as effective as you require. That way, when it is installed, it becomes the benefit you expect instead of an instant headache.
For high quality air conditioning installation service in the Salt Lake City, UT area, call on the friendly professionals of At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air.
