10,516 posts, read 22,544,338 times I'm going to be replacing my 15 year old heat pump soon and I'm thinking about getting a larger one. My house is 1200 sqft and the current unit is 2.5 tons, which I think is typical. It heats fine during the winter, but during the summer it just doesn't cool very good. On a typical 98 degree summer day (I live on the gulf coast) it will be 81 degrees inside even though the thermostat is set at 78, and this is even with one bedroom closed off. From about June till Sept the a/c comes on around noon and doesn't shut off until the sun goes down. I put in solar screens last year and they helped only slightly. I have a big oak tree that shades the west end of the house in the evening, but it may need to be cut down soon which may make the house even hotter. So, I'm thinking of bumping up to a 3 ton. Anyone think a 3 ton would be oversized for 1200 sqft? I heard that if they're too big that they will be cycling on and off all the time which is not good.

172 posts, read 342,863 timesHome » Ac and Furnace Services » True or False: Bigger Unit = Cooler House Bigger isn’t always better for an air conditioner. Buying bigger won’t necessarily make you feel more comfortable during the hot summer months. In fact, A unit that is too big will consume too much power, leading to wastage and higher energy bills, while a unit that is too small will break down frequently since it will be forced to work harder to cool the room.best in wall ac unit Central air-conditioning systems need to be sized by professionals.air conditioner and heater not turning on Here are a few COOLING TIPS to rememberbest whole house ac units Set thermostat at as high a temperature as comfortably possible, and ensure humidity control if needed.

The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. Avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense. Avoid placing appliances that give off heat such as lamps or TVs near a thermostat.I always do my best to keep the electric bill down in our home. I'm constantly turning off lights and appliances and reminding my family to do the same, yet our electric bill never seems to decrease. Am I missing something? Where does electricity waste happen normally in homes? Is there something more I can be doing? I've noticed a lot of cable companies are now providing services to manage energy usage in homes. Is this something worth looking into?For most of us the electric bill is one of the larger bills that we pay each month. So it's only natural that we'd want to reduce it if possible.

So let's look at your question three ways. First, how does your bill compare to the average. Second, what makes the average electric bill so high. And, finally, what can you do to reduce your bill. We'll begin by learning a little about the typical electric bill. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) the average New Mexico home uses 656 kWh per month and spends $74.62. That's lower than the U.S. average energy consumption of 903 kWh and $107.28. You don't say how high your bill is, but if it's concerning you, I'd have to assume it's above average. Of course, the difference could also be explained by an above average sized home. FYI, the EIA published a short-term energy forecast that electric will increase modestly to about 12.3 cents per Kwh in 2014. So expect that your bill will increase a little in coming months. Next, let's take a look at what devices consume the electricity we pay for. The EIA released a paper in 2013 that answers that question.

Let's break down that appliance figure. Duke Electric as assembled an impressive list of what it costs to run various appliances. They used a cost per KwH of 8.2 cents. You'll want to compare that to your rate (which should be clearly stated on your monthly bill). A computer with monitor and printer left on without sleep mode 24 hours a day would run $8.86 per month. Leaving your whole house furnace fan run 24 hours a day would cost $29.52 per month. By comparison a ceiling fan on high speed would cost $3.84. A newer model freezer would consume $4.94 in electricity each month. But an older model $7.97. You probably wouldn't use a TV would use $5.17 per month. The standby (instant on) feature alone costs you $1.18 per month. Your water heater will consume $29.71 per month assuming the heater is housed in a warm space. $8.46 for clothes washing alone assuming you wash eight loads per week. Now that we have some interesting facts, let's look at your situation.

While it's foolish to waste electricity powering lights in an empty room, the cost of a few hundred watts isn't going to bloat your bill too badly. The culprit is more likely among the big consumers of electricity in your home. Generally heating and cooling. Especially if you have a larger home. If you haven't had an energy audit, have one. It's the best way to find out if your home is properly insulated. Proper insulation is the first step in controlling costs. Also have your air conditioner serviced. It's not uncommon to find a unit that's cooling your home, but running much longer than necessary. If possible, keep the outside unit in the shade and make sure that bushes aren't blocking airflow. Even though you live in the Southwest, it's prudent to have your furnace checked every few years, to make sure it's operating efficiently, but also for your family's safety. Next, move on to second-level appliances such as your water heater and refrigerator. Consider an insulated water heater blanket.