Living in West Palm Beach or the surrounding area, there’s nothing like walking into your home on a hot summer’s day and feeling a cold blast of air from your air conditioning system. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for lots of homeowners who have an undersized air conditioner for their home.
Buying and installing an air conditioner requires pre-planning and research. After all, there are so many factors to consider when choosing one system over another. SEER ratings, energy efficiency, and square footage of your home are among the most important.
If you don’t pay attention to these details, you could end up with an AC unit that’s too big or too small for your home. As a result, you will have an uncomfortable indoor climate and higher energy bills.
What Are the Symptoms of an Undersized AC Unit?
While there are many reasons why your AC might not be properly cooling your home, one of the most common culprits is a system that is too small. Read on to learn more about the signs your air conditioning system is too small to get the job done.
5 Symptoms of an Undersized Air Conditioner
Below is a list of signs and symptoms of an AC unit that is too small for your home.
1. Your AC Never Stops Running
An air conditioner works by absorbing the warm air and moisture inside your home. Then, it runs the air through a cooling process until it reaches the temperature you’ve set on your thermostat. If your AC is too small for the size of your home, it’ll keep working to reach that temperature, but to no avail because it lacks the capacity to cool such a large space. As a result, it never completes a cycle and runs continuously.
For each ton of heat that has to be removed from a home, an AC unit needs to have 12,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units). The bigger your home, the more heat it has. The more heat it has, the higher the BTUs required from the AC unit.
When purchasing an air conditioner, it’s important to consider the following circumstances:
- Square footage of your home
- Ceiling height
- Construction materials
- Insulation
- How much direct sunlight comes in through doors and windows
- How many people live in your home
The BTU capacity of an air conditioner is included on a label on the condenser unit (the big box that is outside your home). At the top of the label, you’ll see the model number (M/N) and the BTU capacity, which is the three-digit number after the first dash.
A regular cycle should last between 20 and 30 minutes. If this is not the case with your AC system, call an HVAC technician to find out if your air conditioner is big enough for your home’s square footage.
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2. Low Airflow
This could also be a sign of dirty air filters. But if you’ve cleaned or changed your air filters and still don’t notice a difference in the amount of air that comes out of your vents, you may have an AC that’s too small for your home. However, pay attention to the other signs on this list, since low airflow alone is not a surefire sign of an undersized air conditioner.
3. Your Home Is Never Cool Enough
There are many reasons why an air conditioner may not cool your home properly such as dirty air filters, dirty coils, a clogged condensate drain line, or a refrigerant leak. If none of them apply, yet your home is still not cool enough, the issue may be an AC unit that’s too small.
For more information, check out our article: 5 Reasons Your AC is Not Blowing Cold Air
4. Your Home Has Temperature Inconsistencies Throughout
Do you have that one room in your home that always seems to be too cold or too hot? This is an indication that your AC could be too small. When your AC system is too small, it won’t be powerful enough to reach rooms in your home that are the farthest away from the AC.
An air conditioner that’s the right size will keep consistent temperatures in all rooms of your home. The only exception is kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathrooms if someone’s cooking, doing laundry, or taking a hot shower.
5. High Energy Bills
Since an inadequate air conditioner won’t complete a full cycle, the extra expended energy will result in higher energy bills. As a result, there will also be a noticeable spike during the summer, as your unit goes into overdrive trying to match the temperature set on the thermostat.
Find the Right AC System For Your Home With Sansone
Living in Florida, your air conditioning system is the MVP of your home. But with all the makes and models to choose from, how do you know which AC is the best for you? If you’re looking to upgrade or you think you have an undersized air conditioner, we want to help. From repairs to installations, contact the West Palm Beach air conditioning experts at Sansone today for all of your AC needs.
Broward: (954) 800-2858
Palm Beach: (561) 701-8274
St. Lucie: (772) 879-5656
Need service and repairs on your AC unit? Schedule an appointment with our EZ Book Online button below.
