While the winters sometimes seem to last forever here in Pennsylvania, eventually spring takes hold. Flowers bloom, trees start turning green again, and children can play outside nearly all day.
There’s just one downside — once it’s spring, that means the hot, muggy summer is just around the corner. You may assume that your central heating and air is saving you money on those hot days and humid nights.
If it’s not sized to fit your home and family, however, your HVAC could actually be costing you. Here’s why:
It’s Not Strong Enough… or it’s Too Strong.
Saving a few dollars by going for the smaller, less-powerful option may seem like a good idea at the time, but if your air conditioner isn’t powerful enough to cool the square footage of your home, it will have to work harder and harder to keep up as the temperatures rise. If it’s too powerful, on the other hand, it will continually shut off and turn back on again. The cycle of turning on and turning off on air conditioning actually uses more power than it does simply to run and cool your house.
How can you know if your HVAC is the right size for your house?
First Off: What’s Happening Inside the House?
When evaluating the different options for your central heating and cooling system, take a moment to think about what has led you to think your HVAC isn’t quite right for your home. Do you have a room on the top floor or in the basement that just never quite gets cool? Does your home feel exceptionally clammy or uncomfortably humid, even if the air feels cool? Is your HVAC unit constantly cycling on and off? These are all signs of issues that need addressed and different units may work better for responding to different specific problems.
Next, Get a Little More Specific
The truth is, no one can know your home better than you do. Take a walk around each room of your house. Make a note of how much daily sunlight makes its way into each room, whether or not you find drafty spots that might let cool air out and make your air conditioner need to work just a little bit harder. Do you have a second or third floor to your home? That will also affect the power level needed for cooling the entire residence. Finally, you’ll need to think about the heat generated in rooms like the laundry room or the kitchen — both of these contain appliances that generally give off more heat than any other area in the house.
Choosing a New A/C is Complicated. That’s Why We’re Here.
If the thought of taking notes on every detail is making your head spin, don’t worry! Donnelly’s Plumbing Heating and Cooling has you covered. We can provide not only professional advice and expertise when it comes to choosing the right air conditioner for your home, we also provide new system installation, repairs and service, and more!
We also provide heating and plumbing services, making us your one-stop shop throughout Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties here in Pennsylvania! You can reach us by phone at [hls_phone_number] or schedule service online at any time.
