Your Florida AC System (Part 3)
This post, your Florida AC System (Part 3), recaps the major components taken into consideration when determining the right size AC for your Fort Myers or Cape Coral Florida home. In addition, this information helps to explain the difference between your system in Florida and your system up north.
Below are 10 major factors a professional technician will consolidate into what is known as a Manual J Load Calculation. As a result, this formula will determine the correct size AC for your home.
Major Factors Impacting The Size Of Your AC
- Square footage of your home
- Layout
- Orientation
- Type of roof
- Height of ceilings
6. Size and location of rooms
7. Number of windows
8. Amount of sun and shade
9. Quality of your home’s insulation
10. Condition and quality of duct-work
Must My AC Be “Sized”?
The Florida Building Code requires the size of your air conditioner to match the size and conditions of your house. Therefore, understanding how many windows you have, how efficient they are and the direction they face, is crucial to determining the correct size of your AC.
Other factors such as the amount of insulation in the walls and ceilings – and items previously mentioned – will determine how big your AC unit should be to meet the energy “load” of the home.
PRO TIP: Beware of BTU calculations online. They are not always designed for Florida’s hot and humid climate. Furthermore, it is best to contact a professional AC technician to perform a Manual J Load Calculation to determine the right-sized AC for your Florida home. Contact Sunset Air and Home Services for an evaluation, (239) 693-9005
We are often asked: When I turn my thermostat down, why doesn’t it lower to that temperature? In order to answer this question, there are 2 things we need to address.
1) Setting the thermostat higher or lower with the thought process that the system will work harder to reach the desired temperature does not work. Heating and air conditioning systems do not react like a car does to an accelerator pedal.
2) There will always be a temperature difference between the supply and return air. In fact, when the temperature difference is within the 16-to-22-degree range, this means your HVAC system is functioning properly.
For example: If the temperature outside is 90°F, and you turn your thermostat down to 60°, your AC is not going to cool faster nor is it going to reach this temperature. Therefore, if it is 90°F outside, and the temperature inside your home lowers to 75°F, this is considered normal. Conversely, in the winter, if it is 55° outside your heater will typically only warm to around 75°.
PRO TIP: In the summer, set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature of 78° and let your AC do its job. It will take the same length of time to cool two degrees whether the setting is 78° or anything less. In addition, smart thermostats allow you to control your indoor temperature from anywhere.
Ask Us A Question
If you are experiencing an issue with your Florida HVAC system, or just have a question, give us a call. We are here to educate and ensure you understand how your system works, so you can enjoy your time in SW Florida to the fullest! Contact Us.
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