While warm weather is still a few months away, if your central air conditioner wasn't doing its job last summer, it's not too early to start thinking about a replacement. You might even find some deals leftover from last year. However, buying a new air conditioner isn't a decision that should be made lightly.
You'll want to consult with your trusted HVAC contractor before making a decision. A qualified professional should properly size your new A/C system to fit your Fort Wayne home.
Sizing an Air Conditioner
In the old days, HVAC pros typically used rule-of-thumb sizing techniques based mainly on the square footage of your home. Today, HVAC technicians usually use load calculation software developed by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). Before they can recommend a certain capacity A/C for your home, they have to determine your home's cooling load by using the Manual J load calculation software (also used to calculate heating loads for furnace and heat pump installation).
This software takes into account a variety of factors in your home, in addition to its size and layout. This can include your home's level of insulation, amount of air leakage, location of windows, amount of heat producing appliances and landscaping. Once your contractor determines the cooling load, he can recommend the right central A/C system for your home.
Why is Correct Sizing Important?
Both an oversized and undersized central A/C system can result in inefficient energy usage and poor performance. An air conditioner that's too small will struggle to provide enough cool air during the summer, stressing sensitive components and resulting in a shorter lifespan. In contrast, an oversized A/C will stop and start frequently, wasting energy and stressing parts without providing enough cool air. It also won't adequately filter or dehumidify your air.
For help sizing and selecting your new air conditioner this spring, please contact Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. We provide excellent HVAC services in the Fort Wayne area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “GSPhotography/Shutterstock”