Shopping for a new AC or furnace can be intimidating. When you're looking to find the best HVAC system for your home, it's common to focus on models with the highest efficiency ratings.
After all, the most efficient system will provide the most comfort and lowest energy bills, right?
It’s not quite that simple.
Energy efficiency isn't the only thing you should consider when it comes to new air conditioner installation or installing a new furnace. While many homeowners focus only on {energy efficiency|efficiency ratings, proper {HVAC system sizing is just as, if not more important for your home's comfort and your power bills.
Proper sizing also influences humidity control and long-term reliability. The best HVAC system for your home combines efficiency and proper sizing.
In thisarticle, we'll explain what an air conditioner's SEER rating or SEER2 rating actually measures, why correct HVAC size is so important and why experienced HVAC professionals consider both when helping you select the best HVAC system for your home.
High Seer Ratings: What Do They Mean?
A SEER rating, (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio), shows how efficiently an AC cools your home over a normal cooling season. A SEER2 rating is the updated version of SEER, using evaluation methods that better simulate real-world operating conditions. Most new air conditioners have a SEER2 designation, simply because this rating is the updated rating system for cooling equipment.
Fuel-burning heating system efficiency is rated by an AFUE rating, which stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Similar to SEER and SEER2, higher AFUE ratings indicate a high-efficiency HVAC system that uses less electricity to heat your home than lower-rated systems under standardized laboratory testing.
That said, high ratings don't automatically guarantee lower utility bills. Everyday heating and air conditioner efficiency depends on several key factors, including the quality of the installation, the quality of your ductwork, your home's insulation, thermostat settings and, most importantly, proper HVAC system sizing. Even the highest-efficiency system cannot operate at its best if it is bigger than necessary or smaller than needed for the home.
Why HVAC System Size Matters More Than You Think
Many assume a bigger air conditioner or furnace will heat or cool a home better or that they should simply replace their old HVAC system with a same-sized replacement. Actually, new heating system installation or air conditioner replacement should be sized based on your home's current heating and cooling needs—not just square footage or the capacity of the old system.
That's why reputable contractors conduct an HVAC load calculation, also called a Manual J calculation, before recommending replacement equipment. A Manual J calculation analyzes many variables that affect your home's heating and cooling load, including:
- Total square footage
- Room height
- Window size and placement
- Insulation
- Air leakage
- Regional climate
- Household occupants
- Heat produced from appliances and lighting
- Ductwork condition
A properly sized air conditioner runs for enough time to cool your home consistently while eliminating excess humidity. That means more consistent temperatures, better indoor comfort and improved humidity control. It also helps the equipment to operate more effciently, reducing unnecessary wear that can shorten its lifespan or lead to costly breakdowns.
When HVAC equipment is the right size for your home, you get better comfort and long-lasting performance.
Problems Caused by Oversized and Undersized Systems
It might be tempting to buy the most energy efficient, largest-capacity air conditioner or heating system on the market. However, that’s rarely a smart choice.
heating and cooling systems that are bigger than your home needs or smaller than your home requires can create comfort problems, increase operating costs and reduce efficiency regardless of their SEER rating.
Common Problems With Oversized HVAC Systems
An oversized air conditioner or heating system may heat or cool rapidly, but that doesn't mean it works well.
- Short cycling: An oversized HVAC system cycles repeatedly, reducing efficiency and increasing equipment strain.
- Reduced humidity control: Oversized air conditioners finish cooling cycles too soon to remove enough moisture from the air.
- Inconsistent temperatures: Some rooms get too cold while others aren’t ever cool enough.
- Increased wear and tear: Even though the system reaches the target temperature rapidly, those repeated on-and-off cycles can cause avoidable breakdowns due to the strain.
Cons Associated with Undersized HVAC Systems
An undersized HVAC system also can struggle:
- Continuous operation: The system runs for long periods trying to reach the desired temperature, which also causes additional wear.
- Difficulty reaching thermostat settings: Your home may never feel as cool as you want during hot weather or never feel warm enough in cold weather.
- Greater energy usage: Running for extended periods can increase utility bills.
- Added strain during extreme weather: HVAC systems that are too small can run extremely hard in extreme temperatures, increasing component strain and the risk of breakdowns.
Balancing Efficiency and Size
When weighing the pros and cons of a high SEER vs right-sized system, don't forget that you don't always need the most efficient model on the market.
More often than not, a properly sized, mid-efficiency heating and cooling system will deliver better performance than an overly large premium system because it runs the way it was designed to.
Thebest choice is an energy-efficient HVAC system that's properly sized for your home, your budget, your climate and your long-term goals.
As you think about how to choose a new air conditioner or furnace, keep these factors in mind:
- Efficiency savings: Higher-efficiency and right-sized systems can lower electricity use.
- Purchase price: High-efficiency AC and heating systems often require a larger upfront investment than mid-range models but can lower long-term energy costs.
- Energy prices: Areas with higher electricity rates may see better long-term savings from higher-efficiency units.
- Climate: It's crucial your heating or cooling system has enough capacity to handle areas with very cold winters or extremely hot summers.
- Length of home ownership: If you expect to live in your home for many years, the long-term energy savings of a higher-efficiency unit may be worth the investment.
- Available rebates or tax incentives: Manufacturer promotions, {utility|equipment rebates and tax credits can reduce the overall cost of higher-efficiency systems.
Real-World Situation: High Seer vs. Right System Size
How does this work in the real world?
Suppose there are two neighboring homes.
In one, the homeowner chooses a premium high-efficiency HVAC system that's too big because the contractor only matched the previous unit. Next door, the second homeowner installs a right-sized, mid-SEER or AFUE system after completing a Manual J calculation.
Although the second system has a lesser efficiency rating on paper, it may provide lower operating costs, better home comfort, improved humidity control and last longer because it's appropriately sized to the home's needs.
Work With an HVAC Professional Who Designs the Right Solution
Replacing your HVAC system should involve much more than selecting a system with the top efficiency rating. An ideal system is one that meets your household heating and cooling requirements.
At Siloam Springs Heating & AC, our skilled HVAC experts perform an HVAC load calculation. Our team will evaluate your home's size and layout, your household's heating and cooling preferences and recommend equipment that's properly matched for your home—not simply the largest, fanciest unit or the one with the highest AFUE or SEER2 rating.
Our heating and cooling specialists will help you identify any available rebates and tax incentives and provide information about HVAC financing options that make efficient heating and cooling systems more accessible for all budgets.
Schedule an HVAC consultation online with Siloam Springs Heating & AC today. We'll evaluate your home, answer your questions and help you choose the right-sized efficient system that keeps your family comfortable for the long haul.
