What Size HVAC Unit Does My Home Need?
Determining Coachella Valley HVAC Needs with Earl’s Air Conditioning
Multiple factors impact the number of BTUs (British Thermal Units) that represent the heating and cooling of your home. The easiest way to determine the ideal HVAC system for your home is to contact a professional who is familiar with the climate where you live and who can assess your home to calculate the size for you. At Earl’s Air Conditioning, our technicians can take all of the unique factors of your home into consideration to help you choose an air conditioning or heating unit that is perfect for you.
If you want professional installers and quality HVAC products that you can count on, contact the team at Earl’s Air Conditioning. Our Coachella Valley HVAC experts are here to help.
Call Earl’s Air Conditioning today.
Factors that Affect HVAC Unit Size
HVAC unit size is measured in tons and BTUs, which are both measures of how much heat (or cold air) it takes to change the temperature in a room or space. The ideal HVAC unit size for your home is determined primarily by the square footage of your home. With this in mind, there are multiple other factors that professional installers will consider when recommending a unit for your home. These will include:
- The climate where you live
- The existing ductwork or ductwork space for new installation
- Natural sunlight exposure of your home
- Quality and amount of insulation
- How many people are living in the space
- Additional heat-generating appliances
- Ceiling height and number of stories
You can also reference the existing AC unit to determine an estimated size that your home needs. Although you may be remodeling or maybe purchasing a new unit because the old one is inadequate, it can help you get a feel for what was installed before. To do so, use the model number (not the serial number) to find the number of tons that the unit produces to cool your space. Heating units will use the same concept and factors to determine how big of a furnace you will need, specifically insulation, square feet, and climate zone.
How Your Home’s Feature Affect HVAC Needs
The features of your home that determine HVAC size outside of utilizing a calculation table and square footage will affect how your home holds heat or cooled air. If your home has old or new insulation, this will impact how well it holds heat in the winter and stays cool in the summer. Insulation is the barrier between outside temperature and the air within your home that is controlled by your HVAC system.
Your window style, single or double pane, age, and how well they are installed will also affect how your home holds temperature. In addition, your doors can let heat or cold air escape if their weatherstripping is not well installed or there are gaps between the door and the frame.
The construction of your home and the number of stories in the home will affect how the air moves between rooms and stories, creating obstacles in HVAC system function. If you live in an older home or a new home, the construction can impact how the temperature adapts inside. Many older homes do not have adequate room-to-room insulation or do not have attic space that helps create a barrier for temperature control through the ceiling. Home construction also involved the existing ductwork, or the space afforded for duct installation if it does not already exist.
Call on Earl’s Air Conditioning for Professional HVAC Installation
Don’t risk choosing the wrong size air conditioning and heating system for your home by doing it alone. Too small of a unit will not give you the comfort you desire and too big will utilize excessive energy, costing you the money you don’t have to spend. Let the Coachella Valley HVAC experts are Earl’s Air Conditioning to discuss your heating and cooling needs and how you would like to upgrade your home’s HVAC system.
Contact Earl’s Air Conditioning today and set up an appointment with our team. We are here to help you perfect the comfort of your home.