You may believe that “less is more,” but many people still lean toward a “bigger is better” outlook. If they're wavering about the medium or large order of fries, they'll order the large. And if they're vacillating over buying a 15 or 20 pound turkey for Sunday dinner, they'll reach for the bigger bird.
But when it comes to furnaces, bigger is not better. In fact, it can be downright wasteful. And unlike a few extra fries or a leftover piece of dark meat, you cannot “toss” the waste in the trash, content at least in the knowledge that you're wasting only pennies on the dollar. A heating system with a furnace that is too large for your home can waste significant energy – thereby costing you considerably more money every month on your heating bill.
This is no small fry issue, but it's one heating system service companies see often during service calls. A bigger furnace usually costs more money than a smaller one.
The importance of size accuracy
Accurate furnace sizing is one of the most important services a heating company can offer. This process works in tandem with calculating a home's heating load to ensure the best and most economical “furnace fit.”
Unscrupulous sales people aside, some customers initiate the idea of buying a larger furnace. Maybe it's the “bigger is better” inclination at work, along with the mistaken idea that a larger furnace will “cover” their needs.
This is precisely why education about the risks of oversized furnaces – as well as the wisdom of purchasing one that is just right is important. Sometimes it's easier to frame the issue by beginning with the more obvious risk of buying an undersized furnace.
Why size matters
As you might guess, furnaces consume the most energy when they first fire up. They achieve their peak efficiency level when the warm air reaches a steady and consistent temperature. Once this happens, the furnace turns off.
An undersized furnace will work harder – and longer – to keep your home warm. In fact, a furnace that is too-small may run almost constantly, especially in colder weather. In the worst cases, an undersized furnace may not be able to reach the temperature you've set on your thermostat.
Don't underestimate oversizing
An oversized furnace presents a different problem. It will run hot – usually too hot – and turn off before it achieves a steady and consistent temperature. Now it's begun a vicious cycle called “short cycling.” This is “furnace talk” for when a furnace repeatedly turns on and off – all because it turns off before it attains the thermostat setting.
Short cycling is more than an energy waster; it reduces a furnace's longevity. In this way, an oversized furnace runs like a car that is driven exclusively in city traffic – and by a driver who favors jack-rabbit accelerations over slow and steady starts. The car consumes more gas and is likely to require more maintenance over a shorter lifespan.
Oversized furnaces make their presence known in another way, too: through uneven temperatures in your home. Some areas may be uncomfortably warm while others may be cool or even cold.
Less may not be more, but bigger is clearly not better when it comes to furnaces. To know what's right for your home, contact a Chico area heating system service company like Experts In Your Home to get it just right.
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