One of the biggest mistakes people make is buying an air conditioner based on their budget, and not on the cooling requirements of a space. A small unit in a large room will always struggle to cool it down in mid-summer. When sizing air conditioners, the ‘thumb rules’ don’t always apply. Several parameters need to be factored in.
Some cities and towns are hotter in summer, so they will require more cooling ability for the same size space than would a town or city where summers are milder. Also, some places have more humidity than heat, so the cooling requirement is less. In these regions, however, it is extremely important for an AC to also have the ability to remove humidity. The most commonly used ‘thumb rule’ here is 1 ton per 100 sq. ft., but even this doesn’t always work.
Then there’s aging – yes, it also affects appliances, not just humans. Over time, the efficiency of any appliance reduces, as does the cooling ability of air conditioners. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), an AC loses its efficiency by 7 percent in the first year, 5 percent in the second, and 2 percent for every year thereafter. This decrease will peak somewhere between 20 and 30 percent, depending on how well the AC is built.
At Cool Comfort Heating & Air, we provide residents in the Lake Norman area with installation, repair, service and replacement of all brands of HVAC systems. Clients love our 24/7 emergency service and our extended warranties. Please contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.
