Air conditioners are not one-size-fits-all systems. They come in many different sizes, which are designed to deliver optimum comfort and efficiency based on the needs of your home. The best way to determine your needs is with a Manual J calculation. However, your home may have had a builder that skipped this step or a previous homeowner who purchased an air conditioner without addressing size.
If the AC system in your home is too big, it will suffer from excessive wear, more frequent repairs, higher energy costs, and a shorter lifespan. Look for these key signs that your air conditioner is too large.
Frequent Cycling
If your air conditioner is too big for your home, it will likely cool the interior part of your living space (where your thermostat is probably located) very quickly, shutting off after just a short cycle. Your air conditioner should run for at least 15 to 20 minutes at a time. If it shuts off any sooner, it’s almost certainly too large. These short bursts of operation are inefficient and will create higher energy bills than what you’ll have with a properly sized system.
Hot and Cold Spots
Short cycling keeps your home cool in the area directly surrounding your air vents. However, it leaves the house with insufficient circulation. An oversized air conditioner shuts off before the air gets to the further reaches of your home. This leaves hot and cold spots throughout your living space. If you find that it’s very cool around your air vents but uncomfortably warm in the corners of the room, your AC system is likely too big.
High Humidity Levels
Your air conditioner doesn’t just cool the air in your home. It also handles humidity. This is especially important in our Floridian climate. If your home has high humidity, you may notice condensation on the windows, a damp and musty smell, or microbial growths in your house. One way to handle this is to install a dehumidifier to help pull some of the extra moisture from the air. However, upgrading your air conditioner to one that’s properly sized for your home will help as well.
Noisy Operation
You may hear a moderate amount of noise from any air conditioner, but you shouldn’t have a system that operates so loudly as to disrupt your home. If it’s always noticeable that your air conditioner is running, there’s a good chance that it’s simply too big for the size of your living space. Noisy operation can also indicate other issues such as a clogged air filter, damaged blower motor, worn belt, or other issue. Any time your AC system runs loudly, you should give one of our technicians a call for a diagnosis.
If you suspect your air conditioner isn’t the right size for your home, our technicians at Del-Air can help. We can inspect your current installation and provide knowledgeable recommendations on how you can resolve any issues and boost the comfort in your home.
