Air Conditioning & Cooling – Beat the Heat and Lower Energy Expense
Does the Spring and Summer months have your heat rising yet?
If so, the right air conditioning and cooling system might cool you down and bring a smile to your face. I don’t know about you, but we love all the seasons at Mundy’s Heating and Air. The Spring and Summer months seem to bring about some of the most beautiful memories due to the amount of days we have sunshine and the fact that some go to the beach on vacation to enjoy the sun and water with their families. Along with the beautiful blue sky and sunshine comes heat and long hot days which causes us to sweat in more ways than one.
I don’t know about you, but I begin sweating and my temperature just keeps rising when I think of my energy bills as I like my home to be cool on the inside after a long day working outside in the heat, driving in the hot car or working in a warm office. I just like the opportunity to go home, kick back and enjoy a few minutes of cool down time in the luxury of my home. Sounds good doesn’t it, but it comes with a price. Wait! I have found some ways to reduce cost while increasing my cooling and heating efficiency. At Mundy’s Heating and Air, we are always seeking ways to help improve year-round energy efficiency by lowering cost while improving comfort of temperature within the home. We have provided a few cooling pointers for you to think about which could enhance the quality of your cooling experience, increase the longevity of your HVAC system, reduce your monthly energy bill and provide you some piece of mind and comfort. Enjoy and give us a call when you need a free quote on a new air conditioning unit as we serve the Tri-State area (Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee).
Yes, Air Conditioner Size Does Matter and Why
Air conditioning is more than cooling air temperature relating to your immediate surroundings. Don’t get me wrong, I think of this first as well as I dislike sweating, but it is important to think about something even more important like removing moisture to keep your house from growing mold which increases health issues.
Yes, air conditioning units dehumidify the air inside your house to help control mold and promote a healthy living environment with the proper air filters.
Some other important points to keep in mind when sizing a new air conditioning (AC) unit is the functions of the unit. For example, if the AC unit is too small, the unit will run longer, because it works harder to keep the larger living area cooled. This increases cost and will decrease comfort over time. On the other hand, bigger is not necessarily better as the AC unit will turn on and off more frequently causing a situation called “short cycling” which can shorten the lifespan of the compressor. When the compressor quits operating correctly and the unit does not cycle long enough, it may not remove moisture properly which causes other home comfort issues.
Steps to Sizing Your New AC Unit
To enhance the proper quality of air, maintain cooling levels to meet your expectations and reduce costs to promote energy efficiency, it is important to size your new air condition unit properly. A trained technician can work with you to meet your needs.
First, you need to understand that cooling power is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). Air conditioning size is determined by the square footage of the area you want to cool. This is true whether you are deciding on a central air conditioning system or a window unit. The following question will remain the same: How much power is required to cool and dehumidify a given room or living space? You can answer this question by making a rough estimate of the space by calculating the square footage of your area you are wanting to cool (home or room).
Calculate your living space
Basically, to calculate the total square area of the living space or the space you want to cool, add together the area measurements for all the rooms and spaces on each floor, use the following formulas:
Note: Most of your living spaces can be divided into three basic shapes: square, rectangle, or triangles.
- Square/Rectangles: length x width
- Triangles: (length x width) / 2
If you don’t feel comfortable calculating, need a visual, have your total square area calculated or want a little more information, please use the chart, provided by the federal EnergyStar program, and website as a reference to determine your sizing. You may already know that the load size of an air conditioning systems is measured in tons, where 12,000 BTUs = 1 ton. For example, if you calculated the square footage of the living area you wanted to cool to be 1,400 to 1,500 square feet, then you would need a 24,000 BTU capacity unit based on the chart provided by EnergyStar. If you do the calculations 24,000 BTUs/12,000 BTUs = 2 ton unit, then you would be looking for a 2-ton AC unit. If you are not sure in your calculations, please feel free to contact our office and work with one of our trained professionals, and we will be glad to offer you a free quote and recommend the best cooling solution for your living space.
This calculation is only a starting point as there are other variables to take into consideration. One among the mentioned factors is the R-rating of the insulation in your home. If you have a poorly insulated 1400 to 1500 square-foot space, you will require more cooling power than a tightly sealed space of the same area. Another important factor to consider is the direction in which your home faces or the space in which you are trying to cool. For example, south or north facing parts of your home may require more attention. There are a few other factors to consider when you are sizing your AC unit, but this should help for now. Mundy’s Heating and Air is just a phone call or click away, so reach out to us if you need help with your new or used cooling or heating system.
In closing, installing a new HVAC (heating and air conditioning system) this year might be the cool choice in making your home more energy efficient, seasonally comfortable and enhanced technically. Remember, an improperly sized unit will cost you more in the long run. Be sure to consult local and state laws that might require you to install units with a minimum Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating. Also, some local or state governments may offer tax incentives for more efficient models of heating or cooling systems. A certified technician will be happy to visit, evaluate and recommend the best and most efficient air conditioning system for your home, make an appointment today!
