Installing a new air conditioning system is more complicated than it may appear. It’s not like buying a TV or a refrigerator, where you just look for the options you want at a price you can afford. An air conditioner is a major investment in your home, and needs to be properly sized in order to function as it should. By “size,” we mean cooling power rather than physical size. It’s perhaps the most important aspect of any new air conditioning system. “How powerful an air conditioning should I install?” you ask. A brief answer can be found below.
The exact formula for determining an air conditioner’s power is complicated. It starts with the square footage of your home, which requires approximately 25 BTUs (British Thermal Units) of power for every square foot you have in your home. That’s a rough estimation, though most air conditioners list the recommended square footage on the box. There are countless variables to consider as well. For example, you need to determine how well your house is insulated, and whether your doors and windows have any cracks that could leak air. You need to factor in sunlight exposure, which can warm the house considerably in sufficient amounts, and whether air flow facilitates a rise or a loss in temperature. A trained professional can make those calculations for you and provide an ideal power level for your home.
Why? If your air conditioner is too small, it won’t do the job and if it’s too large, it will cycle on and off rapidly, using a lot of energy and causing a lot of wear in the process. (Air conditioners use huge amounts of energy powering up and down.) An ideally-sized unit will perform at maximum efficiency, increasing its lifespan and lowering your monthly bills in the process.
For more details on how powerful an air conditioning system you should install, contact the experts a Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning. We understand the ins and outs of air conditioning installation in Fresno and other towns throughout the Central Valley, and we know how to get you the system that works best for your home. Contact us today to make an appointment. You’ll be glad you did!