One of the most common questions asked when installing a new air conditioner is, ‘what sized air conditioner or heating do I need?’ When you ask this question to a HVAC professional, you will usually get an answer with terms such as weather, load factor, home size, etc. Read on to gain an understanding of what these terms mean, how an HVAC size matters, and how they apply to your home. Calculating the right size equipment for your air conditioner is not easy. There are a number of factors involved including room size, ceiling height, number of windows, thickness of your walls, insulation, etc. These are the house factors. Another important factor to consider is the environment you live in. Each part of US is broken by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration into zones that require what is called Cooling Degree Days, and Heating Degree Days. Degree–days are climate metrics that can be used to project the energy demand required for space heating as outdoor temperatures change from reference temperatures.

The reference temperature used is 65 degrees F or 18 degrees C. Each of these zones needs different sizes of air conditioning or heating. On a broad scale, these can be slotted into a table that shows the square foot range by climate zone. This table is meant to give you a quick and broad idea of the size that is needed for your heating or cooling depending upon where you live in the US. For example, an home in NY will need a completely different size as compared to a home of the same size in San Jose, CA.ac power supply uses HVAC is not an one size fits all business. cost of ac unitThe multiple factors we discussed before have a direct bearing on the performance of heating and cooling systems. ac unit how does it workSo what happens if I have larger or smaller unit?

Let’s consider a car. Take a car that is meant to carry 5 people and 100 pounds of baggage. What happens when you stuff ten people in the car and load it with 500 pounds of baggage? First, every person travelling will be uncomfortable and, two, the engine will be strained beyond it’s capacity. An air conditioning or heating system that is too large for your house will be inefficient and an overkill. It is like using a bus to transport just 3 or 4 people. Some disadvantages of an unit that is too large are: A unit that is too small is like the overcrowded car with too many people and baggage. Some disadvantages of an HVAC unit that is too small for your home are: A right sizeed HVAC system is ideal in terms of performance, efficiency, energy consumption and your comfort level with the following advantages: As we said earlier, there are a number of factors that determine size. Let’s review the most important factors: The methods used for calculating the size is straight forward.

At the same time, based on the high energy efficiency of modern heating and AC units, these calculations have become quite complicated. Professional HVAC consultants, such as the Peirce energy experts found right here, are trained to do these calculations day in and day out. Many of our contractors use a computer based program that has been designed and matured by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). The program is called the Manual J Residential Load Calculations. If you live in Pennsylvania, call your nearest Peirce Phelps dealer. Each dealer on this site has been thoroughly trained to determine the best unit for home owners, and is an authorized dealer of Carrier heating and cooling systems, manufacturers of the new Variable Speed air conditioning and heat pump units. The Carrier Variable Speed (VS) units are smaller, quieter and more efficient. These units are available in sizes that will be ideal for you home. Use the services of our dealers to identify and install a right heating or air conditioning system for your home.

Click on the Dealer Locator, and learn more about these revolutionary HVAC systems, and how smaller can be better for your home! What IS an air filter anyway? An air filter is a vital part of your home’s forced air HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. Most homes have at least two filters that stand guard over your home’s air; their specific job is to remove bacteria and harmful particles, regularly cleansing the air. Why are filters important? 100% of the air in your home passes through a filter, typically twice every hour. Since clean, quality air filters keep the air in your home fresh, the people inside stay healthier. A quality filter captures the harmful bacteria typically found in sneezes, coughs, viruses and molds, as well as pollutants like dust and car fumes. Clean filters also keep your HVAC system healthy—they enable it to run more efficiently, keep repair costs to a minimum, and reduce monthly energy bills. About half of your monthly energy bill is attributed to HVAC, and keeping clean air filters is the single most effective way to improve HVAC efficiency.

Clogged filters make the HVAC work harder as it conditions your home, which raises your energy bill. (And if there are no filters, the coils will clog, which is even worse for your system.) How often should I change filters? We recommend changing filters at least every 3 months, but every 1 to 2 months will usually serve you better (especially if you have a busy lifestyle, family with allergies, pets in the home, etc.). If you want help choosing the delivery schedule that fits your individual needs, just call or email. We’re here for you. Regular filter changes cut 5% - 10% off your energy bill every month according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Where are air filters located? Air filters can be found inside the return vents in your home. These returns might be on the ceiling, wall, or in the system itself. Most homes have 2 or 3 returns inside the house, or alternatively, two 5” filters that go within the HVAC system itself. Typically the inside returns are more accessible, which makes filter changes easier in these locations.

What about different sizes? Filters for returns come in all sorts of sizes—one size rarely fits all, even within one house. Dimensions range from 10” x 10” to 30” x 36.” Most (but not all) filters are 1” thick but occasionally, homes will have 2”–5” thick filters. How do I determine filter size? Sizing filters is easy. If there is an old filter in the return, the size should be listed on the side of the filter. Remember that each home typically has different sizes throughout, so you’ll want to check sizes at every return. If there’s no filter within the return, simply measure the length and width of the space. You’ll want to get the exact dimensions to ensure a snug fit for maximum filtration. How do I install an air filter? Changing an air filter is easy. Just open the return, pop out the old filter and securely put the new one in its place (following the directional arrows to ensure proper airflow). Then close the return. That’s all there is to it—changing filters is a snap!