Choosing the RIGHT HVAC System for Your Home

Are you looking to find the very best HVAC system for your home? What goes into making a wise choice? It is a bit like the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears; it takes finding the right . . .

The Right Size HVAC System

HVAC systems are sized according to the needs of the home and each home is unique.

A system that is too large is too efficient. This causes the heating and cooling cycles to be shorter than normal, causing additional wear on the electrical components. During the cooling season, the shortened cycles do not have enough time to remove excess humidity, leaving the home musty and feeling sticky.

A system that is too small is underpowered and cannot handle extreme temperatures. The heating and cooling cycles are longer than necessary, working harder to reach the desired temperature. This causes excess wear on the entire system.

• How can you determine the proper size system? A technician will investigate the home and complete a Manual J load calculation.
• What goes into this calculation? The technician will collect details including square footage, the number and size of windows and doors, insulation type, and orientation to the sun to determine solar gain.
• How are HVAC systems sized? The air conditioning will be sized by the ton (nothing to do with the weight of the components) and the heating size will be measured by British Thermal Units (BTUs).
• How close will the calculation get? Air conditioners are manufactured in ½ ton intervals; the selection will be the closest and just larger than the determined need. Furnaces are manufactured in 5,000 BTU intervals; the selection will be the closest and just larger than the determined need.

The Right Efficiency HVAC System

The US Department of Energy and engineers have developed efficiency rating systems for both air conditioning and furnace systems. This ensures that consumers are aware of the efficiency and quality of the systems being selected.

• Air conditioner systems receive a seasonal energy efficiency ratio or SEER rating. A higher SEER number indicates the cooling output divided by the energy required to create the cooling effect. This number changes with weather conditions, so the readings are average for an entire cooling season. Systems with SEER ratings between 15 and 22 are available in Texas.
• Heating systems are rated with an annual fuel utilization efficiency rating; this rating is expressed in percentage—how much of the available energy is converted into heat. Electric furnaces recover 100% of the available energy, while natural gas systems convert between 80 and 98.5%.

The Right HVAC System Accessories

• This efficiency can be achieved with improved technology, including variable-speed blower motors and refrigerant compressors. How does this help? The cooling need is less when the outside temperature is 82⁰ than when the temperature is 102⁰. The same is true for heating when the temperature is 59⁰ and when it is 29⁰.
• Systems can also be enhanced for improved indoor air quality. Many airborne particles are organic and tend to trigger allergies and asthma and some cause deadly illness. Ultraviolet light kills these living contaminants, making them inert dust to be collected by the air filter.

Let All Star Air Help You Choose the RIGHT HVAC system

Let All Star A/C & Heating Services help with your HVAC system selection. We have a seasoned team of HVAC contractors who will inspect, clean, and make suggestions on any repairs needed to keep you and your family comfortable.