Choosing a new AC or furnace can feel overwhelming. When you're looking to find the best HVAC system for your home, it's natural to look for models with extremely high efficiency ratings.
After all, the most efficient heating and cooling system will provide the most comfort and lowest energy bills, right?
Not necessarily.
Energy efficiency isn't the only thing to think about when it comes to new air conditioner installation or furnace replacement. Even though many focus only on energy efficiency, proper HVAC system sizing is equally, if not more important for your home's comfort and your energy bills.
Proper sizing has a major impact on humidity control and system longevity. The best HVAC system for your home combines efficiency and correct sizing.
In this blog, we'll explain what an air conditioner's SEER rating or SEER2 rating actually measures, why correct HVAC size is so important and why experienced HVAC professionals consider both when recommending the best HVAC system for your home.
What Does a High SEER Rating Actually Mean?
A SEER rating, (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio), measures how effectively a cooling system cools your home over a typical cooling season. A SEER2 rating is the newer version of SEER, using test procedures that better simulate real-world operating conditions. Nearly all new air conditioners have a SEER2 rating, simply because this is the current rating system for cooling equipment.
Fuel-burning heating system efficiency is measured by an AFUE rating, which is short for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. As with cooling efficiency ratings, higher AFUE ratings indicate a high-efficiency HVAC system that uses less electricity to heat your home than lower-rated systems under standardized laboratory testing.
Even so, high ratings don't necessarily guarantee lower utility bills. Everyday heating and air conditioner efficiency depends on several key factors, including the quality of the installation, the state of your ductwork, your home's insulation, thermostat settings and, most importantly, proper HVAC system sizing. Even the highest-rated system cannot perform as intended if it is bigger than necessary or too small for the home.
Why Correct HVAC System Sizing Matters More Than You Probably Think
Many assume a bigger air conditioner or furnace will make their home the most comfortable or that they should simply replace their old HVAC system with a same-sized replacement. In reality, new heating system installation or AC replacement should be sized based on your home's true heating and cooling needs—not just square footage or the size of your existing equipment.
That's why reputable companies perform an HVAC load calculation, also called a Manual J calculation, before selecting replacement equipment. A Manual J calculation considers many details that affect your home's heating and cooling requirements, including:
- Total square footage
- Room height
- Window size and placement
- Home insultation levels
- Air leakage
- Area climate
- Number of occupants
- Heat generated by appliances and lighting
- Air duct condition
A properly sized air conditioner runs long enough to cool your home more uniformly while pulling out excess humidity. That means steadier temperatures, better indoor comfort and improved humidity control. It also helps the equipment to perform more effciently, reducing unnecessary wear that can cause it to wear it out sooner or lead to costly breakdowns.
When your heating or cooling system is the right size for your home, you get better comfort and more dependable performance.
Problems Caused by Oversized and Undersized HVAC Equipment
It might be tempting to buy the most energy efficient, highest-capacity air conditioner or heating system on the market. The truth is, that’s rarely a great idea.
heating and cooling systems that are too large or smaller than your home requires can create comfort problems, increase operating costs and reduce efficiency regardless of their SEER rating.
Issues Created by Oversized HVAC Systems
An oversized air conditioner or heating system may heat or cool rapidly, but that doesn't mean it works well.
- Short cycling: An oversized HVAC system turns on and off frequently, reducing efficiency and increasing wear and tear.
- Reduced humidity control: Oversized air conditioners reach the set temperature too fast to remove indoor humidity from the air.
- Uneven temperatures: Some rooms get too cold while others stay too warm.
- Increased wear and tear: Even though the system works quickly, those repeated on-and-off cycles can cause avoidable breakdowns due to the strain.
Issues Created by Undersized HVAC Systems
An undersized HVAC system has a different set of problems:
- Continuous operation: The system runs for long periods trying to reach the desired temperature, which also causes extra strain.
- Trouble reaching the thermostat setting: Your home may never feel as cool as you want during hot weather or feel too cool during winter.
- Increased energy consumption: Running nonstop can increase energy costs.
- Greater strain on very hot or cold days: HVAC systems that are too small can run extremely hard in extreme temperatures, increasing equipment wear and the chance of failure.
Why You Should Balance HVAC System Efficiency and Size
When weighing the pros and cons of a high SEER vs right-sized system, remember that you don't automatically need the highest-efficiency model on the market.
More often than not, a properly sized, mid-efficiency HVAC system will deliver better performance than an oversized premium system because it operates the way it was designed to.
Thesmartest choice is an energy-efficient HVAC system that's properly sized for your home, your budget, your climate and your future plans.
When deciding how to choose a new air conditioner or furnace, keep these factors in mind:
- Lower energy costs: Higher-efficiency and right-sized systems can decrease electricity use.
- Purchase price: High-efficiency AC and heating systems often cost more initially than mid-range models but can reduce long-term energy costs.
- Electricity rates: Areas with more expensive electricity may see better long-term savings from higher-efficiency units.
- Your local climate: It's important your heating or cooling system has enough capacity to handle areas with harsh winter weather or very hot summers.
- How long you'll own the home: If you intend to remain in your home for many years, the long-term energy savings of a higher-efficiency unit may justify the investment.
- Rebates and tax credits: Manufacturer promotions, {utility|equipment rebates and tax credits can reduce the overall cost of high-efficiency HVAC equipment.
Real-World Example: High Seer vs. Right System Size
How does this work in a real world scenario?
Suppose there are two neighboring homes.
At the first home, the homeowner chooses a premium high-efficiency HVAC system that's too big for the house because the contractor only matched the previous unit. At the neighboring home, an HVAC professional installs a right-sized, mid-SEER or AFUE system after completing a Manual J calculation.
Although the second system has a lower efficiency rating on paper, it may deliver lower operating costs, better home comfort, more effective humidity control and have a longer lifespan because it's correctly matched to the home's needs.
Choose the HVAC Professional Who Designs Solutions Tailored to Your Home
HVAC replacent or installation should involve more than selecting a system with the highest efficiency rating. An ideal system is one that meets your home’s heating and cooling requirements.
At Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning, our knowledgeable technicians perform an HVAC load calculation. We'll evaluate your home's size and layout, your household's heating and cooling preferences and recommend equipment that's properly matched for your home—not simply the largest, most expensive unit or the one with the highest AFUE or SEER2 rating.
Our HVAC experts will connect you with any available rebates and tax incentives and provide information about HVAC financing options that make efficient heating and cooling systems more accessible for all budgets.
Schedule an HVAC consultation online with Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning today. Our team will evaluate your home, answer any questions and help you choose the properly sized high-efficiency system that keeps your family comfortable for years to come.