If you feel your home is not cooling enough, you must look at how your house is constructed to determine whether your central AC system is the right size for your home’s square footage and features. The easiest way to do this is to call a professional AC company and have an experienced technician inspect your cooling issues.
Another reason your home may not be cooling correctly is that you have an older HVAC system. An old AC unit may not function like it used to, so your home feels warmer than it should. Over time, systems get run down and dirty if they are not properly maintained. AC product technology has improved in recent years, and upgrading your air conditioner can help keep your home cooler while increasing your energy savings.
Does Your Home Have The Correct Size Air Conditioner?
The right size AC unit is crucial for comfort and energy efficiency. An undersized AC system will run continuously without reaching the desired temperature, leading to insufficient cooling. This happens because the system doesn’t have the capacity to remove enough heat from the air in larger spaces. As a result, rooms remain warm, and the AC unit wears out faster due to overuse, driving up energy costs.
Size of HVAC Systems
Choosing the right size air conditioner for your home is essential to maintain comfort and efficiency. The size of your home plays a significant role in determining the correct tonnage and SEER rating needed to keep it cool without overworking your system. If your AC is too small, it will struggle to cool your home, while an oversized unit may cycle on and off too frequently, wasting energy.
- A 2.5-ton AC with a SEER rating of 14-16 is typically recommended for a 1,500-square-foot home.
- A 2,500-square-foot home may need a 4-ton unit with a SEER rating of 16-18.
- For larger homes, like a 3,500-square-foot space, a 5-ton unit with a SEER rating of 18-20 is usually ideal.
How Your Home’s Design Impacts Your AC
Some factors that can cause a home to feel less cool include the type of roof, whether you have attic insulation, the style of windows, and even the direction your house sits. All of these things can affect your cooling load.
Type Of Roof On Your Home
The type of roof you have will make a difference in keeping a home cool. A barrel tile roof is considered the best type and gives excellent insulation. Barrel tile compared to shingle tile could mean a 1-ton difference in air conditioning, saving you hundreds of dollars on your electric bill per year. Shingle roofs do not have the same insulating factor as tile roofs. Another factor that can cause your home to feel warmer is the color of the roof. A light-colored roof reflects the sun’s heat versus a darker roof that will absorb more heat. The hotter your roof is, the warmer your home will feel.
Lack of Insulation In Your Attic
Ensuring your insulation is good can improve your home’s ability to stay cool. Ask your technician how the insulation looks the next time they are in your attic to determine if it’s sufficient.
Sprayed foam insulation is the best for insulating an attic. It has the best insulation r-value. Most homes in South Florida have blown-in insulation. That is the loose insulation above the ceiling. A good rule is that you don’t have enough insulation if you can see the trusts in your attic.
Insulation Installation Rebates and Tax Credits
FPL has insulation rebate programs and agreements with companies to help pay to re-insulate your attic. The IRS offers incentives for installing insulation, which helps to reduce energy consumption and lower utility costs. These tax credits can make upgrading your home’s insulation more affordable, promoting energy efficiency and long-term savings.
Type Of Windows On Home
The type of window you have can increase or decrease your heat load on a home. Windows that have cracks or need repair will make you pay more for your electric bill because cold air is escaping your home and warm air is getting in. Glass pane windows are the old style of window that provides very little protection from the sun. They allow a lot of heat into a home. Newer windows that are hurricane intact and have an R-value of 5 means that these windows have reduced heat loss from a U-factor of 0.3 to 0.2. By upgrading their windows, consumers can save more than 30% on energy bills. Even sliding glass doors allow that heat into your home. Sometimes, putting a UV film can help keep a house cooler.
Direction Your Home Faces
The orientation of your home plays a major role in determining its heat load. A home facing north or south will generally stay cooler compared to one facing east or west, even with the same floor plan. This is because homes that face east or west get more direct sun exposure throughout the day, especially in the afternoon, leading to increased heat absorption. In fact, the difference in heat load could require a full ton more air conditioning to maintain comfort. When the longer sides of your home are exposed to the sun for extended periods, it absorbs significantly more heat, raising cooling demands.
Ensuring Your AC Effectively Keeps Your Home Cool
For your AC to cool your home efficiently, it’s crucial to match the unit’s capacity to your home’s square footage. A unit that’s too small will run constantly, unable to meet the cooling demands, while a system that’s too large will lead to short cycling, causing uneven cooling and unnecessary wear on the unit. Getting the sizing right helps maintain consistent temperatures and reduces energy costs. By working with an HVAC expert, you can ensure your system is tailored to your home’s unique requirements, providing reliable performance and comfort.
