Choosing the appropriate HVAC system size for your home is essential. It affects your comfort and your energy bills. In this HVAC sizing guide, the experts at Joel's Heating and Cooling will explain how to choose the right size of heating and cooling system for your home, what features they take into account and why picking the ideal size HVAC is so important to your convenience.

How Does HVAC System Size Affect Your Home Comfort and Efficiency

Proper HVAC size differs for each home. Your HVAC system needs adequate heating and cooling capacity to make your entire home cozy. It shouldn't struggle to keep up in extremely hot or chilly weather. However, an HVAC system that's too big is inefficient, costs more up front and can cause problems that make your home less comfortable.

Critical Factors Professionals Consider for HVAC Sizing in Plainfield, IL

To select the right HVAC system size for a home, the HVAC installation experts at Joel's Heating and Cooling carry out a Manual J load calculation to determine how many British Thermal Units (BTUs) are needed to heat and cool and the home. A Manual J calculation evaluates several features of your home, such as:

  • Home size: The total area of the home is arguably the most significant factor in choosing the size of your HVAC system. How much space will your new HVAC system be required to keep comfortable?
  • Amount of insulation: A fully insulated home retains the indoor temperature more efficiently, which can influence how much heating and cooling capacity you need.
  • Regional Climate: The local climate in Plainfield, IL, has a significant role in identifying the right size HVAC. Homes in hotter climates might need a system with a higher cooling capacity, while milder regions may require less.
  • Window size: Windows can be a significant source of energy loss. The number, dimensions, type of glass used, and whether they’re single or double pane can significantly influence heating and cooling requirements.
  • Amount of sun: A home that receives a considerable sunlight will inherently be warmer than one that doesn't, which influences central air sizing. Home placement in relation to prevailing winds and number of nearby shade trees also affect the proper HVAC size.

Common HVAC Size Mistakes to Avoid

A frequent mistake homeowners make when choosing the size of home HVAC system is to focus only on square footage. While the square footage of your home has a major impact on what size HVAC you need, other considerations also influence how much heating and cooling capacity is necessary to keep your home cozy.

Another typical mistake is not hiring a professional. It's vital to have a skilled HVAC technician perform a Manual J calculation, which takes all the essential aspects of your home into consideration to determine the right HVAC size.

Why Is Your Home HVAC System Size Important?

An incorrectly sized system can result in comfort problems and cost you money. Here's a closer look at the pitfalls of a incorrectly sized HVAC:

Issues with undersized HVAC systems:

  • Reduced lifespan and breakdowns: HVAC systems that don't have enough power often run constantly to attempt to regulate the temperature of a home, leading to more wear and tear. This can result in breakdowns and even require premature HVAC replacement.
  • An unpleasant home: Small HVAC systems are too weak to heat and cool your whole home, which can lead to hot, stuffy rooms or areas of your home that are far too cool.
  • Increased energy bills: An underpowered HVAC system that operates nonstop trying to keep up uses more energy, running up your monthly power bills and wasting your hard-earned money. A properly sized and energy-efficient HVAC system operates more efficiently and helps to lower your monthly bills.

Problems with HVAC systems that are too big

  • Unnecessary expenses: Larger HVAC systems tend to cost more money, so investing in more heating and cooling capacity than your home needs is an unnecessary expense.
  • Less service life and breakdowns: HVAC systems that are excessively large often cycle on and off, referred to as short cycling. This can cause wear and tear on your equipment, shortening its service life or requiring HVAC repair.
  • Excessive indoor humidity: An HVAC system should regulate indoor humidity, but an oversized HVAC system may lack adequate runtime to accomplish that task. This can cause indoor air quality issues, and encourage the growth of mildew or mold.

Get Help Replacing or Sizing Your Home HVAC System from Joel's Heating and Cooling  

Now that you know some of the things that impact what HVAC system size is right for you, it's time to find a new heating and cooling system. Joel's Heating and Cooling can help.

We’ll evaluate your home and give you a free, no-obligation estimate for HVAC installation. We’ll assess your home to identify the best HVAC system size for you, so you can experience comfort every day of the year.

Call 815-556-1046 today to book your free estimate for HVAC installation in Plainfield, IL.