How do you choose the right sized HVAC system for your Portland home?

Selecting the right sized HVAC system is important to efficiently heat and cool your home. A system that is too large will cool or heat your house quickly, but it will create humidity. This occurs because the system will satisfy the thermostat before it can adequately remove sufficient moisture from the air during the cooling mode. This could even lead to moisture and mold problems. The stress of short-cycling (too many starts and stops) will shorten the life of equipment, and increase your heating and cooling bills.

On the other hand, a system that is too small will be insufficient to adequately heat or cool a space, especially in extreme weather conditions. The air conditioner will run constantly in the summer and the furnace will do the same in the winter, which also increases the heating and cooling bills. 

Determining the correct number of BTU’s for the size of your home is one of the first steps to select the right sized unit. This can be calculated using the square footage of a home. Ballpark estimates and averages of BTU’s required per square footage are available, but AAA Heating and Cooling can provide a more comprehensive understanding to determine which is the best system specifically for your home. We take into consideration the following details when servicing Portland HVAC systems:

• The square footage of your home
• The type and size of your windows
• Basement and attic conditions
• Insulation
• Climate and weather

Climate is one of the most important factors to consider when determining what kind of HVAC equipment you need. Humidity and moisture are also important factors to consider, because they affect internal and external temperature, as well as HVAC cycles. Even more moderate weather in Portland affects the functionality of HVAC units.

Large windows can be a nice feature, especially if your home has a great view. They let light in, and they can be pleasant to open when the weather is nice enough to bring indoors, but that can be a problem when the weather is not so pleasant. Larger windows that let in more light during the summer will quickly heat a room, prompting people to turn up the AC. Windows also have different levels of insulation, which affects how much air and moisture is escaping, or being let in, which then affects temperature and humidity. Poorly insulated windows mean the inside temperature is closer to the same temperature outside, forcing your system to work harder to achieve the desired temperature.

Selecting the right HVAC for a house is a great opportunity to save money and maximize the comfort of your home. In addition to climate and square footage, there are a lot of other details and variables to consider. AAA Heating and Cooling can assess Portland homes to determine the best sized HVAC for them.