The A/C Guy of Tampa Bay Inc. Blog: Archive for September, 2020

Can I Size My Own Air Conditioning System for Installation?

Monday, September 21st, 2020
Close-up of copper coils on an HVAC unit component used in heating and air conditioning installation.

Sizing an air conditioner means finding how powerful an AC is necessary to provide the specific amount of comfort for an interior space. If you are looking for a new central air conditioner for your house, you need to have the system sized so it provides your household with the comfort level it needs during even the hottest weather. Sizing is about more than ensuring a new AC system is powerful enough; it also ensures the system isn’t too powerful. Proper sizing is crucial for efficiency, system longevity, and optimal performance, as it ensures the HVAC unit meets your home’s needs without overworking or wasting energy. Choosing the right size and a high-efficiency system can help homeowners save money on energy bills over time. This article is a step by step guide to installing a heating and air conditioning unit, helping you understand each stage of the process.

A properly sized air conditioner falls between the extremes of oversized units, which can lead to frequent cycling, reduced comfort, and inefficiency, and undersized units, which may struggle to cool or heat your home effectively and cause excessive wear and higher energy costs. When selecting a system, you’ll also need to consider the type, such as a split AC system, which has separate indoor and outdoor units, allowing for efficient cooling and customizable installation—making it suitable for cooling multiple rooms. Be sure to check the efficiency rating (such as SEER) of the unit, as this impacts both the upfront investment and your long-term energy savings. Homeowners should also consider the total cost of installation, including equipment, labor, and any additional components like ductwork or permits, to make an informed decision.

How is sizing done, and is it something you can handle on your own before?

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Are Heat Pumps as Good at Cooling as Air Conditioners?

Monday, September 7th, 2020

Heat pumps are common installations in Tampa Bay because they are a wonderful fit for our climate. Heat pumps are both heating and cooling systems, which is good for almost any part of the country, but there are features that make them particularly suited to Florida. One of them is their heating ability. We don’t rely as much on heating systems as much as air conditioning systems in the warm climate of Florida, and heat pumps are able to provide electric heating that doesn’t drain enormous amounts of energy (a problem with electric furnaces). Heat pumps can have trouble with extreme cold weather, but we don’t have that issue, so as heating systems, heat pumps are exactly right for us.

But … what about air conditioning? What about cooling? Is a heat pump at the same level of cooling as a standard air conditioner? This is important to know because hot weather is what we deal with the most in Florida.

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