When it comes to a lot of things, bigger is usually better. After all, who doesn’t want a bigger mattress to lounge on or a bigger shower to rest and relax in? While these are some fairly obvious examples that most people would agree with, when it comes to other things like the appliances that you trust in your home or workplace, bigger isn’t necessarily always better.

Your HVAC system is a finely-tuned set of machinery, and it takes some special knowledge to know what makes it perform best and what can seem like a good idea but ultimately just be more of a strain than anything.

Read on for some more thoughts about HVAC installation and why you should work closely with a professional technician before deciding what size unit you’d like to install in your home.

Risks of units that are too small

Picking an air conditioning unit isn’t just about avoiding one that’s too big—it’s about finding one that’s the right size for your home or office. An air conditioner that’s too small for your space carries with it a few risks. First of all, it will likely never get your house down to the right temperature after the HVAC installation is completed and it’s up and running. It simply won’t have the muscle to bring everything down to a cool and consistent temperature.

Second, it’s going to be brutal on your electrical bills. It will be constantly running as it strains to meet the temperature you’ve set, but it likely will never quite get there, so it will burn through power at a very expensive and inefficient rate. This also means that it will have a shorter lifespan, and HVAC repair could be on the horizon sooner than it should be.

Risks of units that are too large

On the flipside, our experience in the field of HVAC repair informs us that air conditioners that are too big for a space can be harmful as well. First off, a large unit is not going to cool your home at the consistent rate that an HVAC system should. It will cool it down immediately and then shut off, which means that it’s not fully cycling. This can cause larger electrical bills and also wear out the unit faster.

It can help to understand the detrimental effect of a short cycle length by remembering that HVAC motors use far more power when starting up than when running, so short cycles leave you more susceptible to higher bills and a more frequent need for HVAC repair.

Next a quick cycle like the one described won’t properly dehumidify the home. It might bring temperatures down quickly, but there will still be an uncomfortable level of humidity in the air. Only a normal-length cycle can ensure that this humidity is effectively removed from your home’s breathable air.

Picking an air conditioner that’s the right size for your home can involve some research, but it’s also best to work side by side with HVAC installation professionals. Our team at American Refrigeration Inc has helped people heat and cool their homes for over 25 years, and we want to earn your business next, so call us today.