The U.S. has been experiencing a lot of hot and cold weather the past few years, and the Farmer’s Almanac recently forecasted that two-thirds of the country is in for a bad time this winter. With such hot summers and a frigid winter predicted, it’s more important than ever to be sure that new HVAC installations are accurate and to figure out why existing HVAC systems aren’t working well.
A local Shreveport Technician shares tips for figuring out if an HVAC unit is too small or too big.
Supersized Is Not Super Great
There are many tell-tale signs that your HVAC unit is too big. If it only runs for five or ten minutes before shutting off, that’s a HUGE red flag – most of the time, an HVAC unit should take about thirty minutes to cool the house down, during which time the HVAC unit will also remove moisture from the air.
If your home feels clammy, that’s another bad sign that your unit isn’t running long enough to remove moisture from the air. That is bad news for your family’s health since moisture can cause everything from mold to eventual structural damage.
If your home never seems cool enough during the summer or warm enough during the winter, that’s a sign the HVAC unit is too small. Obviously, this makes the home less comfortable. If the HVAC unit is running all day or gets overheated, you probably have a unit that’s too small.
Having a unit that is too big or too small means increased costs due to repairs, replacement, and energy bills. When getting a recommendation for an HVAC unit, a good technician should base the size of the home and exact calculations of the BTUs needed to cool your home. The technician should also take into account the number of people living in the home, and the amount of windows and doors in the house.
What Are BTUs?
A BTU is a British Thermal Unit. BTUs measure how much energy is needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree. Although the internet is filled with calculators and charts to guesstimate or calculate the size of HVAC you need, a good professional technician can save you the time and hassle.
Some technicians will cut corners, so be sure to never use a professional who recommends a unit based solely on a general “rule of thumb” without taking measurements, or a technician who wants to merely replace a unit with the same size without doing measurements first.
Another red flag is if a technician adds several additional people more into his or her calculations than the amount actually living in the home. An expert technician will take measurements and recommend the right HVAC unit that converts the correct number of BTUs.
An HVAC unit is one of the most important appliances in your home, and if the right one is picked it will last for many years, so be sure to invest in buying the right one the first time to enjoy years of comfort.
About LenAire, Inc.
LenAire, Inc. has been serving Bossier and Shreveport since 1987. They offer second opinions and estimates for new systems, both for free. They only hire the best of the best technicians, turning down 97% of applicants since their technicians must be knowledgeable, detail-oriented, friendly, and helpful.
LenAire, Inc. prides itself on taking measures like covering shoes and putting down drop cloths to keep your home in its pristine condition so that after your HVAC unit is fixed, you can sit back and relax, not spend the day resentfully cleaning.
