No home in the United States is complete without a furnace, at least in regions where winters are long and harsh. Furnaces have been making life better, safer and healthier for millions of American families for generations, and HVAC models have improved significantly and become more efficient over the years. That being said, HVAC experts acknowledge that there are still problems many homeowners face when it comes to furnace installation. Such problems are often caused by a furnace that’s the wrong size and power.
But why does size make a difference when choosing a furnace? John Stevenson Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. shed light on this matter here.
If the Furnace Is Too Big…
Without the help of air quality and furnace installation expert, a homeowner might assume a bigger furnace is the wiser choice. After all, it seems logical to think that a bigger furnace can make your home warmer and therefore more comfortable. What really happens is that the system uses bursts of heat to warm things up.
Quick bursts of heat are a big furnace’s answer to a cold house. When these bursts occur, some parts of your home may become hot. The furnace will then shut off too soon, leaving other rooms cold. This abnormal cycle will make your furnace use up more energy than it’s supposed to, and can even shorten the life of the equipment.
Expect your furnace to require frequent checks and repairs, adding to your maintenance costs.
If the Furnace Is Too Small…
Some homeowners think a smaller furnace will require less energy to run, but a furnace that’s too small for your home will also run into problems. For one thing, you can’t expect an undersized furnace to provide adequate heating if your area experiences very low temperatures. Your furnace will try to keep up with the specified heating requirements, running constantly and using up a lot of energy. In addition, while your tiny furnace can easily provide heat for one room, the other rooms in the house are likely to still be freezing. As your furnace does its best to compensate, it becomes overworked, so don’t expect a furnace that’s too small to last very long.
Heating installation is best left to the experts. At John Stevenson Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., we know which size of the furnace is right for your home heating needs. Call us today at (760) 276-6690 or fill out our contact form for a consultation. We work with California homeowners.