Bigger is not Better with HVAC

DATE: August 11, 2016

For many, many years in heating and air conditioning, it was an accepted practice to apply the following logic in sizing a replacement system: “If big is good, then bigger is better.” This thought process reflected many things.

Years ago, and I am referring to a time when efficiency was not even in our vocabulary, oversizing was a common practice. If it was determined that a particular size system was adequate, then a little extra was almost always incorporated into the system, just in case. No one wanted to be ‘short’ in either the heating or cooling capacity of a new system. And, with utility costs being much lower, and no real emphasis put on the efficiency of the equipment, this practice was commonly used throughout the industry. If you had more capacity that what you needed, no big deal.

With the introduction of higher efficiency equipment and more emphasis put on utility costs, following guidelines that assured the correct size equipment was installed became mandatory. I’ve mentioned previously that too large of a cooling or heating system will not result in any added comfort, but to the contrary, can decrease the overall comfort in the home.

A bigger system will kick on and off, or ‘short-cycle.’ This results in more wear and tear on the equipment, higher utility costs, and a lower comfort level. I don’t know about you, but from my viewpoint, none of these are characteristics of a system I would want to promote. Making an investment in a higher efficiency HVAC system should result in achieving the highest level of efficiency possible in your home. Follow along on our blog, and learn even more!

John L. Lloyd