Are you asking, “What size HVAC do I need for my home in Newington, CT?” Considering the size of your HVAC unit is vital, as only correctly sized HVAC systems (find here )can heat and cool your property effectively.
You can determine the correct size for your HVAC unit by considering the size of your home and your climate. Get more information about sizing an HVAC system and air conditioning repair by SM Mechanical. You can easily reach us if you call (860) 296-5100.
Reasons To Calculate the Size of Your HVAC Unit
Why should you worry about the size of your HVAC system? Operating either a too small or a too large system can have detrimental effects on your property.
HVAC systems that are too small cannot effectively keep your property cooled or heated. In an effort to handle the temperatures, these units often end up running continuously. Constant running causes your energy bills to increase and wears out the HVAC system more quickly, leading to breakdowns.
Selecting an HVAC system that’s too large does not fix all your problems either. These systems may cool your house more quickly, but this means they don’t have time to handle the humidity in your air. HVAC systems that are too large often leave your home very muggy and damp.
You can resolve these issues by determining, “What size HVAC do I need?” Selecting the correct AC unit can help you stay cool and warm throughout the year.
How Companies Size HVAC Units
How do you calculate the size of the HVAC unit that would work best for your house? First of all, it’s important to understand how manufacturers size HVAC systems. Companies use BTUs (British Thermal Units) and tonnage to describe the size of their machines.
BTUs represent a unit’s cooling capacity, while tons refer to the unit’s overall weight. Generally, you want to focus on a system’s BTUs more than weight, as the BTUs directly correlate to the amount of cooling or heating a system can handle. However, in many cases, one-ton machines produce around 12,000 BTUs, so keep this in mind when determining the size of your air conditioner.
Determining the Size of Your HVAC Unit
The basic calculation for determining the size of your HVAC unit requires you to find the square footage of your home and multiply that number by 25. For example, let’s say that you have a 5,000 square foot home. You would complete this mathematical problem:
5,000 x 25
This operation provides you with the answer: 12,500. Therefore, you would want an HVAC unit that produced around 12,5000 BTUs. In this situation, you could likely get the cooling and heating you wanted from a one-ton HVAC unit.
However, this basic equation does not factor in all considerations when sizing your HVAC system. Before you run out to the store, make sure that you take the following into account.
Consider High Volume Rooms
Some rooms in your home may see a lot of use. If you have rooms where two or more people spend a lot of time throughout the day, you may want to add 500 BTUs to your calculation. It’s best to add an extra 500 BTUs for each high-volume room in your home.
Add More Energy for Your Kitchen
Your kitchen produces a lot of heat, especially if you do a lot of cooking and baking. Many HVAC professionals recommend that you add 4,000 BTUs to your calculations to cover temperature fluctuations caused by the kitchen.
Consider Rooms That Get a Lot of Sun
Finally, some rooms in your property may get a lot of sun, while others may always be in the shade. You can add 10% of a single room’s BTUs if the room gets heavy sun. For example, let’s say you have a 100 square foot room that gets a lot of sun. You already need 2,500 BTUs to cool the room (100 x 25 = 2,500). You should add another 250 BTUs for this room (10% of 100 is 10, so 10 x 25 = 250).
Conversely, you can subtract 10% of the total BTUs for rooms mainly in the shade. Consider the same room as above, except let’s imagine it never gets any sun. You would begin with 2,500 BTUs for the room. However, you would subtract 250 BTUs due to the shade, leaving you with 2,250 BTUs in total.
You can carry out these calculations for every room in your home. You can also work with an HVAC professional to get more in-depth information about your energy needs.
Your Climate and Sizing an HVAC System
Before you decide on an HVAC unit based on your calculations, it’s essential to consider the weather where you live. Do you live in the south, where the temperatures remain very hot for most of the year? Or do you live further north, where the winters can get very cold?
Generally, you require a system that generates more BTUs per square foot if you live in colder areas. Connecticut rests in Zone 4 of the United States, meaning that the weather here can get very cold, though not as chilly as the temperatures in Zone 5.
HVAC units for homes in Zone 4 may need to produce around 45 BTUs per square foot to heat your home in the winter months effectively. Based on this factor, you may need a larger HVAC unit than property owners in warmer parts of the country.
Considering your climate, the square footage of your home, and other factors can help you determine the size of the HVAC unit you need to stay comfortable.
Speak With Us About the Size of Your HVAC Unit
Are you asking yourself, “What size HVAC do I need?” You can review the specific needs of your property by contacting SM Mechanical Services. Our team offers HVAC services in Newington, CT, and we can help you go through all the calculations about HVAC sizing. Find out more by calling (860) 296-5100.