What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need In Portland?

Summers in Portland have been heating up lately, which means a greater demand among homeowners for top-quality AC systems. Whether you’re adding a new AC unit for the first time or replacing an existing one, size may matter more than you think.

In this article, we’ll tackle the following issues so that you can make an informed decision:

• How air conditioners are sized
• Why you need a load calculation
• The problems with an oversized AC system
• The problems with an undersized AC system
• How to find a trustworthy AC installer in Portland

Want to Check Your Air Conditioner’s Size?

Four Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning is a trusted local HVAC provider that residents in Portland and the surrounding areas trust to keep them cool and comfortable even when outdoor temperatures soar. With over two thousand five-star reviews and four decades of providing HVAC service to homeowners, call us today at 503-538-1950 or schedule an AC replacement through our convenient online portal to see why our customers stay with us.

Choosing an AC that is the right size for your space is essential for several reasons. Sizing may not mean what you typically think it means for AC systems, which refers to their cooling capacities in British Thermal Units (BTUs).

So, one BTU is the same amount of heat generated by lighting one match. The higher an AC's BTU rating, the more effectively it can remove heat from an indoor space within an hour and cool a building. For instance, an air conditioner with a BTU rating of 20,000 can remove the heat of 20,000 lit matches within an hour.

However, bigger isn’t always automatically better. A major misconception is that a home's square footage should be the only consideration when deciding on an AC system's size. For the best possible decision, it’s important to have a load calculation performed by an experienced professional.

Load calculations determine a structure's overall heat loss and heat gain to make an informed decision on the appropriate AC size. An HVAC technician will consider the below factors when performing a heat load calculation:

• Local climate conditions
• Ceiling height
• Flooring materials
• Ductwork quality and location
• Insulation quality and location
• Roofing type
• Age and orientation of windows and doors
• Number of household appliances
• Number of household occupants
• Layout and square footage of the home

Although these factors may seem insignificant at first glance, they combine to create a big picture needed when deciding what size AC unit best suits the unique needs of your household and house. You may wonder why it should matter how many people live in the home, but body heat can contribute to the overall heat load of a residence that the air conditioner must remove to keep your home at your desired temperature.

Like its oversized counterpart, an undersized AC system also comes with a likelihood of increased utility costs. Because it has to run all the time in order to keep the home at the right temperature, it uses significantly more power than an appropriately sized one. Your home may never feel as consistently cool and comfortable as you would like.

Because an undersized AC unit has to work much harder to do the job than one that’s the right size, there’s an increased risk of parts wearing out sooner than they should, negatively affecting its lifespan.

Now that you know what goes into sizing an air conditioner, the next step is finding an AC installer you can trust to do the job right.

When the time comes to replace an old AC or install a new one, Four Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning has you covered. We’ve been serving homeowners in Portland and the surrounding areas for over 40 years; we’ve developed a reputation for quality service, great pricing, and expert craftsmanship. Our NATE-certified technicians will arrive at your home within a two-hour scheduling window and complete all their work in a timely fashion.

Call us at 503-538-1950 for a same-day install or schedule online to see why we’ve earned over two thousand 5-star reviews!