An incorrectly sized air conditioner could mean big trouble for you and your wallet in the near future. Like an incorrectly sized engine in the wrong car, you could find yourself with a failed air conditioner on the hottest day of the year and no idea how it happened. Homeowners like to think that all air conditioner problems are in the same category, that eventually you can get them fixed and your AC system will be like new.
Unfortunately, that’s not true. A filter issue or a thermostat miscalibration is one thing, but having your air conditioner be the wrong size for your house can shortly lead to the need for a new AC system. Imagine trying to get new tires on your car only to find out that you need to buy a whole new car because the whole thing is ruined.
It sucks right? Well, perhaps what we’re about to talk about could help you get solid AC repair in Gresham, OR for your incorrectly sized unit.
Too Small
If your air conditioner is too small for your home, it’s going to have to work much harder to cool down your home. This means that it will run its full cycle much more frequently than a normal-sized air conditioner. A well-fitted AC runs a tight schedule in between cycles when it’s cooling, and when it can’t quite cool off enough space because your home is too big for it, it runs with smaller breaks in between cycles. This puts stress on specific parts of the air conditioner that will inevitably lead it to an early demise.
Too Large
So many homeowners believe that an air conditioner that’s too large can’t be a bad thing. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. An air conditioner that’s too large will perform something called a short-cycle, which is the process by which the air conditioner starts up but doesn’t complete a full cycle. This will put unnecessary stress on parts of the AC, as well as stop it from performing important processes it relies on. It’s like trying to walk with your shoes tied together—it puts unnecessary strain on your body and after a while, you’re bound to trip and hurt yourself.
Just Right
A well-fitted air conditioner will perform its normal cycle and cool your home down to the desired temperature on the thermostat. Your air conditioner doesn’t like to be rushed through its cycles and it doesn’t like it when it can’t complete a full one. AC systems require the right sizing and environment to live a long and healthy life.
“So what?” You’re probably thinking, “my air conditioner works just fine regardless of how it fits.” Well, the professionals wouldn’t agree. Your AC might work right now if it’s wrongly sized, but as we mentioned earlier, it puts unnecessary strain on parts of the system and will cause it to break down much earlier than it normally should.
Ultimately, the choice is yours when it comes to looking into getting a properly fitted air conditioner.
For all your other AC questions—please call Sydni, our Office Extraordinaire, to schedule your next appointment! We will take care of you from there!