If there’s anything you don’t want to be stuck with in the middle of a chilly day in winter, it’s a broken-down furnace system. And if you’ve come across this blog post, chances are that you’re in a bit of a rush to get a new system installed in your home—we are still dealing with cooler temps for a bit, after all.
This isn’t a decision to be rushed, though! This could lead you to make a mistake that will result in repair needs and inefficient furnace operation further down the road. Mistakes like, assuming that bigger is better when it comes to what size furnace you get.
Furnace size does matter! You probably know this in a sense—that too small of a system isn’t powerful enough to efficiently cool a home. But did you know that too large of a system can also have detrimental effects? Read on to learn more!
The Problem with an Oversized Furnace
Homeowners are often tempted to buy the biggest furnace they can install, thinking it will be the one to perform the best and keep them the most comfortable each and every winter. On the contrary, an oversized (a.k.a overpowered) furnace is prone to a number of operational problems. The biggest problem you might face is short-cycling.
Short-cycling is a process where your furnace, or air conditioner, cycles on and off rapidly, never completing a full heating or cooling cycle. Short-cycling causes your HVAC systems to work inefficiently, and also exacerbates the wear and tear on them. You’ll find yourself paying for costly repair needs you shouldn’t have had, and you’ll likely find that the lifespan of your furnace is drastically shortened.
The Problem with an Undersized Furnace
As you might guess, and as we alluded to above, an undersized furnace simply cannot provide your household with effective and efficient warmth and comfort that you deserve. It will be forced to run too long—essentially working too hard—in order to actually meet the desired temperature on your thermostat, which is very much a problem. An overworked furnace will require repairs often, and it will wear out much more rapidly than a correctly sized furnace system.
Additionally, an undersized—underpowered—furnace will wind up costing you a lot of money in the long run. It wastes a significant amount of energy and puts a lot of stress on the mechanical components of your heating system.
How to Avoid This Problem
The best way to prevent sizing problems with your new furnace is to contact trained and experienced professionals, like ourselves, for your furnace purchase and installation. We’ll conduct what’s called a heating load calculation on your home, to determine the size of the furnace that is best for your specific home and needs, getting your heater off to a great start!
For quality furnace installation and furnace repair in Orland Park, IL, contact our team. Comfort First Heating and Cooling, Inc., where we put your comfort first!