How To Choose The Best Residential Air Conditioning System
South Florida summers get hot. Living with no air conditioning system can be close to impossible. Choosing the right HVAC for your home and your budget is key. You should consider several factors when installing an HVAC system. These include the size of your home, the presence of pets, and allergy considerations. Here’s our guide on how to choose the best residential air conditioning system for your home.
What Size Is Your Home?
Matching an HVAC system to the size of your home is an important first step. Residential air conditioners usually range from 1.5 to 5 tons in cooling capacity. In Florida, 1.5 tons will cool an area between 600-900 square feet. A 5-ton unit will cover an area between 2,400 and 3000 square feet. It’s best to also consider your home layout and room sizes. Open-planned homes require a different HVAC set up to a closed-plan home. A reputable HVAC technician will know how to measure your home’s cooling requirements.
Your Home’s Heating Load
Different homes have different heating loads. You can determine these by considering factors such as the type of insulation or the building material used.
Sun exposure is another important consideration. Different building materials carry heat differently. Wooden houses will gain and lose heat faster than brick or concrete block houses. Wooden houses, for instance, may need a more comprehensive HVAC system. If your home has a southern orientation, its sun exposure will be greater. Which will need a stronger HVAC system.
Consider Allergies and Pets
Air quality is important when it comes to air conditioning. More than 26 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with allergy-induced asthma. Good air quality reduces symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath. Contributing causes to asthma and allergies include dust mites, pollen, and pet dander. HVAC systems need professionally designed airflow patterns to ensure optimal comfort. The last thing you want is for your HVAC to be blowing allergens around your home.
Pet dander is another big contributor to compromised air quality. Pet dander tends to clog up your HVAC air filter faster and you’ll need to change your filter more regularly. Speak with a residential air conditioning specialist to optimize your HVAC filters and airflow.
How Many People Live In Your Home?
The human body generates heat. On average, your body generates 330 BTUs (British Thermal Units) every hour. This means that the more people you have in your home, the more cooling capacity you’ll need.
Another consideration is the foot traffic flow. If your family tends to be on the move, you may need to consider a more powerful HVAC system. This is because opening doors create increased air loss.
Consider A Smart Residential Air Conditioning System
Smart HVAC systems are increasing in popularity. These systems allow you to control your home’s climate from your phone or desktop computer. These systems need a professional HVAC technician to install a few basic components.
The joy of this system is that you can set the air temperature from the comfort of your own home. This means that if you’re on your way home, you can optimize your home’s climate before entering. This is a definite consideration.
The Residential Air Conditioning Experts In South Florida
At Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric, we are the residential air conditioning experts. We have decades of experience when it comes to installing HVAC systems. We understand what’s needed for the hot and humid summer Florida climate and we carry the most up-to-date systems.
Call us today at 1-800-475-1504. You can also follow Art Plumbing AC & Electric on Facebook to keep up to date with the latest articles.
