The cost of a new central AC system can be impacted by many factors, but when it comes to determining the cost, size is a major concern. Both the size of your home and the size of the unit have an effect on the price, so today we’re going to look at why size matters—from an AC standpoint, at any rate.
How your home size affects central air conditioner prices
The larger your home, the larger an AC system you will require to do a good job of cooling. But bigger isn’t always better. If you have a unit that is too big for space it is cooling, it won’t cool efficiently. It will tend to shut off before it has run its full cycle and will end up costing you a lot more on your energy bills.
If your unit is too small, it will run all the time because it will always be trying to keep up. Once again, it will cost you more money to run a system that is too small. When your system is sized “just right” for your space, it will cool efficiently over one cooling cycle, then it will shut off, helping you save on your energy bills.
Choosing the right-sized air conditioning system for your home is key to efficiency and cost savings. Speak to a qualified HVAC technician to determine the best choice for your specific needs. We use various different calculations to arrive at the right answer. Depending on the layout of your home and the type of installation we are doing (new install versus changeout), we may use a house-load calculation, or a room-by-room calculation to determine the right size for you.
How the size of your air conditioning unit affects the price
Air conditioning units are sized in tons. In general, the larger your home, the more tonnage you will need. The larger the system, the more expensive it is.
However, there are a few things we consider before deciding what the right size for you might be:
- Your windows
If you have a lot of large windows or if your windows are not very efficient, you will likely require a larger unit. In this case, more heat will be passing through your home through the windows, so the unit will have to work that much harder to cool your interior spaces. - Your ceilings
High ceilings are great, but it means there is more air in your home that has to be cooled. This means you will need a larger AC unit. - Your insulation
If your home is well-insulated and energy-efficient, your air conditioning won’t have to work as hard. If your home is not well-insulated, the opposite is true, and therefore, you will require a larger air conditioning unit. - Your people
If it’s just you and the dog rambling around your Denver home, you won’t need as much air conditioning as you would if you were a family of five. More bodies equal more heat, equals more air conditioning.
As you can see, there are many size-related factors that will affect the price of your central air conditioner. Call today to speak to one of our technicians about how you can optimize your air-conditioned spaces and get the most value out of your central air system.
