Choosing a new AC or furnace can be stressful. If you want to find the best HVAC system for your home, it's understandable to look for models with extremely high efficiency ratings.
Surely the most efficient heating and cooling system provides the most comfort and lowest energy bills, right?
Not necessarily.
High efficiency isn't the only thing you should consider when it comes to new air conditioner installation or installing a new furnace. While many homeowners focus only on {energy efficiency|efficiency ratings, proper {HVAC system sizing is just as, if not more important for your home's comfort and your energy bills.
Proper sizing directly impacts humidity control and long-term reliability. The best HVAC system for your home delivers energy efficiency and correct sizing.
In thisarticle, we'll explain what an air conditioner's SEER rating or SEER2 rating actually measures, why proper HVAC system size is so important and why experienced HVAC professionals consider both when recommending the best HVAC system for your home.
What Does a High SEER Rating Actually Mean?
A SEER rating, (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio), shows how effectively an AC cools your home over a typical cooling season. A SEER2 rating is the current version of SEER, using test procedures that better simulate real-world operating conditions. Today’s new air conditioners have a SEER2 rating, simply because this is the current rating system for cooling equipment.
Fuel-burning heating system efficiency is rated by something called AFUE, which stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Like cooling efficiency ratings, higher AFUE ratings indicate a high-efficiency HVAC system that uses less electricity to heat your home than lower-rated systems under standardized laboratory testing.
That said, high numbers don't by themselves guarantee lower utility bills. Real-world heating and air conditioner efficiency depends on more than just efficiency ratings, including the quality of the installation, the state of your ductwork, insulation levels, thermostat settings and, most importantly, system sizing. Even the highest-rated system cannot perform as intended if it is bigger than necessary or undersized for the home.
Why Correct HVAC System Sizing Matters More Than Most Homeowners Realize
Many assume a higher-capacity air conditioner or furnace will heat or cool a home better or that they should simply replace their old HVAC system with a unit of the same capacity. In reality, new heating system installation or a new air conditioner should be sized based on your home's actual heating and cooling needs—not just square footage or the size of your existing equipment.
That's why reputable technicians complete an HVAC load calculation, also called a Manual J calculation, before recommending replacement equipment. A Manual J calculation considers many details that impact your home's heating and cooling requirements, including:
- Overall square footage
- Room height
- Window size and placement
- Home insultation levels
- Air leakage
- Area climate
- Household occupants
- Heat produced from appliances and lighting
- Air duct condition
A properly sized air conditioner runs through longer cooling cycles to cool your home evenly while removing excess humidity. That means more consistent temperatures, better indoor comfort and improved humidity control. It also helps the equipment to run more effciently, reducing unnecessary wear that can cause it to wear it out sooner or lead to frequent or expensive repairs.
When HVAC equipment is the right size for your home, you get improved comfort and more dependable performance.
Problems Caused by Oversized and Undersized HVAC Equipment
Many homeowners are tempted to buy the most energy efficient, largest-capacity air conditioner or heating system on the market. The truth is, that’s rarely a great idea.
heating and cooling systems that are too large or smaller than your home requires can create indoor comfort challenges, increase energy expenses and reduce efficiency regardless of their SEER rating.
Issues Created by Oversized HVAC Systems
An oversized air conditioner or heating system may reach the thermostat setting fast, but that doesn't mean it delivers the best comfort.
- Short cycling: An oversized HVAC system turns on and off frequently, reducing efficiency and increasing wear.
- Humidity problems: Oversized air conditioners reach the set temperature too fast to remove indoor humidity from the air.
- Hot and cold spots: Some rooms feel too cool while others stay too warm.
- Additional equipment wear: Even though the system heats or cools your home fast, those constant cycles can cause avoidable breakdowns due to the strain.
Issues Created by Undersized HVAC Systems
An undersized HVAC system also can struggle:
- Continuous operation: The system runs for long periods trying to reach the desired temperature, which also causes additional wear.
- Difficulty reaching thermostat settings: Your home may never feel as cool as you want during hot weather or always feel chilly in the winter.
- Higher energy use: Running for extended periods can increase monthly energy expenses.
- Extra stress during severe weather: HVAC systems that are too small can work harder in extreme temperatures, increasing equipment wear and the likelihood of repairs.
Balancing Efficiency and Size
When weighing the pros and cons of a high SEER vs right-sized system, remember that you don't automatically need the top-efficiency model on the market.
More often than not, a correctly sized, mid-efficiency heating and cooling system will deliver better performance than an oversized premium system because it runs the way it was designed to.
Theideal choice is an energy-efficient HVAC system that's correctly sized for your home, your budget, your climate and your long-term goals.
When deciding how to choose a new air conditioner or furnace, keep these factors in mind:
- Energy savings: Higher-efficiency and right-sized systems can lower electricity use.
- Initial cost: High-efficiency AC and heating systems often cost more initially than mid-range models but can lower long-term energy costs.
- Electricity rates: Areas with more expensive electricity may see more significant long-term savings from higher-efficiency units.
- Your local climate: It's crucial your heating or cooling system has enough capacity to handle areas with harsh winter weather or extremely hot summers.
- Time you plan to own the home: If you expect to live in your home for many years, the long-term energy savings of a higher-efficiency unit may justify the investment.
- Available rebates or tax incentives: Manufacturer promotions, {utility|equipment rebates and tax credits can lower the overall cost of qualifying equipment.
Real-World Example: High Seer vs. Right System Size
How does this work in a real world example?
Imagine two neighboring homes.
At the first home, the homeowner chooses a premium high-efficiency HVAC system has far more capacity than the home needs because the contractor simply matched the previous unit. Next door, the second homeowner installs a properly sized, mid-efficiency system after completing a Manual J calculation.
Even though the second system has a more modest efficiency rating on paper, it may provide lower operating costs, better home comfort, more effective humidity control and have a longer lifespan because it's correctly matched to the home's needs.
Choose the Local HVAC Professional Who Designs Solutions Tailored to Your Home
HVAC replacent or installation should involve much more than selecting the unit with the highest efficiency rating. The best system is one that meets your heating and cooling requirements.
At Northwest Services, our knowledgeable technicians perform an HVAC load calculation. Our team will evaluate your home's design, your household's comfort goals and recommend equipment that's designed specifically for your home—not simply the biggest, latest and greatest unit or the one with the highest AFUE or SEER2 rating.
Our team will let you know about any available rebates and tax incentives and provide information about HVAC financing options that make energy-efficient HVAC systems more accessible for all budgets.
Schedule an HVAC consultation online with Northwest Services today. We'll evaluate your home, answer any questions and help you choose the right-sized high-efficiency system that keeps your family comfortable for years to come.