Shopping for a new air conditioning system 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 equipment should deliver the most comfort and lowest energy bills, right?
Actually, that’s not always the case.
Energy efficiency isn't the only thing you should consider when it comes to new air conditioner installation or replacing your furnace. Although many people focus only on {energy efficiency|efficiency ratings, proper {HVAC system sizing is often even more important for your home's comfort and your utility bills.
Proper sizing has a major impact on humidity control and system longevity. The best HVAC system for your home combines energy efficiency and correct sizing.
In thisguide, 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 helping you select the best HVAC system for your home.
High Seer Ratings: What Do They Mean?
A SEER rating, (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio), indicates how effectively a cooling system cools your home over a normal cooling season. A SEER2 rating is the current version of SEER, using test procedures that better represent real-world operating conditions. Today’s new air conditioners have a SEER2 efficiency rating, simply because this is the current rating system for cooling equipment.
Fuel-burning heating system efficiency is measured by AFUE, 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.
That said, high ratings don't necessarily guarantee lower utility bills. Everyday heating and air conditioner efficiency depends on many factors, including the quality of the installation, the state of your ductwork, how much insulation your home has, thermostat settings and, most importantly, HVAC system sizing. Even the highest-efficiency system cannot deliver peak performance if it is bigger than necessary or too small for the home.
Why HVAC System Size Matters More Than Most Homeowners Realize
Many assume a larger 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. Actually, new heating system installation or AC replacement should be chosen based on your home's actual heating and cooling needs—not just square footage or the size of your existing equipment.
That's why reputable technicians complete an HVAC load calculation, also called a Manual J calculation, before suggesting replacement equipment. A Manual J calculation analyzes many factors that impact your home's comfort needs, including:
- Home square footage
- Room height
- Window size and orientation
- Home insultation levels
- Drafts and air leakage
- Area climate
- Household occupants
- Heat generated by appliances and lighting
- Air duct condition
A properly sized air conditioner runs for enough time to cool your home more uniformly while pulling out excess humidity. That means steadier temperatures, better indoor comfort and improved moisture control. It also helps the equipment to operate more effciently, reducing excessive wear and tear that can cause it to wear it out sooner or lead to more repairs and higher repair costs.
When HVAC equipment is correctly sized, you get greater comfort and more dependable performance.
Problems Caused by Oversized and Undersized Systems
It might be tempting to buy the most energy efficient, biggest air conditioner or heating system on the market. The truth is, that’s rarely a smart choice.
HVAC systems that are bigger than your home needs or smaller than your home requires can create indoor comfort challenges, increase operating costs and reduce efficiency regardless of their SEER rating.
Drawbacks of Oversized HVAC Systems
An oversized air conditioner or heating system may reach the thermostat setting fast, but that doesn't mean it works well.
- Short cycling: An oversized HVAC system starts and stops often, reducing efficiency and increasing wear.
- Humidity problems: Oversized air conditioners cool your home too quickly to remove enough moisture from the air.
- Uneven temperatures: Some rooms become too cold while others aren’t ever cool enough.
- Additional equipment wear: Even though the system heats or cools your home fast, those repeated on-and-off cycles can cause avoidable breakdowns due to the strain.
Drawbacks of Undersized HVAC Systems
An undersized HVAC system can have the opposite problem:
- Continuous operation: The system operates almost continuously trying to reach the desired temperature, which also causes unnecessary wear and tear.
- Difficulty maintaining the desired temperature: Your home may not feel comfortable during hot weather or never feel warm enough in cold weather.
- Increased energy consumption: Running for extended periods can increase utility bills.
- Added strain during extreme weather: HVAC systems that are too small can run extremely hard in extreme temperatures, increasing component strain and the chance of failure.
Finding the Right Balance Between Efficiency and Size
When trying to decide between a high SEER vs right-sized system, keep in mind that you don't necessarily need the most efficient model on the market.
In many cases, a properly sized, mid-efficiency heating and cooling system will outperform an oversized premium system because it operates the way it was designed to.
Thesmartest choice is an energy-efficient HVAC system that's matched for your home, your budget, your climate and your long-term needs.
When deciding how to choose a new air conditioner or furnace, consider:
- Efficiency savings: Higher-efficiency and right-sized systems can reduce electricity use.
- Initial cost: High-efficiency AC and heating systems often require a larger upfront investment than mid-range models but can help reduce long-term energy costs.
- Electricity rates: Areas with higher electricity rates may see better long-term savings from higher-efficiency units.
- Climate: It's important your heating or cooling system has the right capacity to handle areas with extremely cold winters or very hot summers.
- Length of home ownership: If you expect to live in your home for many years, the long-term energy savings of a higher-efficiency unit may be worth the investment.
- Financial incentives: Manufacturer promotions, {utility|equipment rebates and tax credits can reduce the overall cost of higher-efficiency systems.
Real-World Situation: High Seer vs. Right System Size
How does this play out in a real world scenario?
Picture two neighboring homes.
In one, the homeowner chooses a premium high-efficiency HVAC system that's too big because the contractor simply matched the previous unit. At the neighboring home, an HVAC professional installs a properly sized, mid-SEER or AFUE system after completing a Manual J calculation.
Even though the second system has a lower efficiency rating on paper, it may deliver lower operating costs, better home comfort, more effective humidity control and last longer because it's appropriately sized to the home's needs.
Choose the HVAC Professional Who Designs Personalized Solutions
An HVAC replacement should involve much more than selecting the unit with the highest efficiency rating. The best system is one that meets your heating and cooling requirements.
At Patterson & Stirling, our experienced professionals perform an HVAC load calculation. Our team will evaluate your home's size and layout, your household's comfort needs and recommend equipment that's designed specifically for your home—not simply the biggest, 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 Patterson & Stirling to get started. We'll evaluate your home, answer any questions and help you choose the correctly sized efficient system that keeps your family comfortable for many years.
