An oversized furnace is a common problem easily overlooked. Although many homeowners believe that a larger unit will heat their home quicker, dealing with an oversized furnace will cause more harm than good.
Thankfully, furnaces and Heating and AC units are available in a wide range of sizes to fit every home. When you need help determining which size furnace is right for your home, the experts at Mission Comfort can help. Our Heating & Air Conditioning professionals in Waldorf, MD, have years of experience and know-how to find the proper size system for any home.
Having an appropriately sized furnace is essential for multiple reasons. When the furnace is too big, homeowners can face multiple problems that impact their home’s indoor air quality.
Common Problems with an Oversized Furnace
Below are some of the most common problems homeowners face when dealing with an oversized furnace—and how to address them.
Short Cycling
Your furnace heats your home by releasing warm air in frequent cycles. When the unit is too big for your home, it will have a shorter run time, frequently turning on and off. Generally, these short cycles last between ten and 15 minutes.
When constantly short cycling, your system is subject to increased wear and tear. This damage impacts the unit’s efficiency and reduces its working lifespan.
Uneven Temperatures throughout Your House
An oversized furnace can make your home uncomfortably hot. Your furnace heats your home according to your thermostat’s set temperature. When it reaches the desired temperature, the system shuts off.
When the furnace is too big for your home, it will unevenly distribute heat. This variance occurs because your furnace will heat some rooms quicker than others. When a room near the thermostat reaches the set temperature, the furnace will turn off before adequately heating the remaining areas of your house.
Uncomfortable temperatures in your home are a common indication of a poorly sized furnace. The best way to restore comfort to your home is to replace your oversized furnace with a unit that fits the size of your house.
Reduced Lifespan
One of the homeowner’s biggest issues with an oversized furnace is a reduced unit lifespan. When a furnace is too big or too small for your home, it must labor to reach thermostat demands. Consequently, it will short cycle and become subject to increased wear and tear.
The average lifespan of a quality furnace is between 15 and 30 years. The life expectancy of a furnace depends primarily on routine maintenance, installation quality, and unit size. Homeowners may face a greater need for repairs, more expensive maintenance costs, and an overall shortened unit lifespan.
Poor Energy Efficiency
Among the most common problems with having an oversized furnace is poor energy efficiency. An oversized system labors to meet the set temperature, therefore requiring significantly more energy.
The best way to improve energy efficiency and lower your power bills is to replace your oversized furnace with a newer, appropriately sized model. When exploring replacement options, pay attention to the AFUE rating.
The AFUE is an efficiency rating that determines how much heat the furnace uses and wastes during the combustion phase. The higher the AFUE rating, the more energy-efficient your system is. Improving the energy efficiency of your furnace extends its lifespan and improves your home’s indoor air quality.
Higher Energy Bills and Repair Costs
By working harder to meet thermostat demands, your furnace will draw more energy. As a result, homeowners will gradually experience higher energy bills.
On top of increased utility bills, homeowners will also face higher repair costs. With constant short cycling and uneven temperatures throughout the house, an oversized furnace will malfunction more frequently. This breakdown affects your wallet and impacts your home’s indoor air quality and overall comfort.
Instead of paying for constant repairs and higher utility bills, replacing your oversized unit with a properly sized one is the best solution.
What to Do When Dealing with an Oversized Furnace
If you suspect that you have an oversized furnace, the best thing to do is get a new furnace installed. Replacing your furnace with a newer system is a worthwhile investment that can reduce your overall maintenance, repair, and energy costs.
When installing a new furnace, it is critical to find a unit that appropriately fits the size of your home. The first step is to find an experienced Heating and Air Conditioning company to help you find the right size unit.
Not all companies size furnaces the same way. If they suggest any of the following, you should consider contacting another company.
- They use the rule of thumb, which uses a certain number of BTUs per square foot.
- They want to replace your furnace with another one that is the same size.
- They suggest getting a larger unit.
The only reason your Heating and AC technician should suggest a larger unit is if your current furnace is too small for your home. A unit that is too small for your home creates similar problems as an oversized unit. To determine the appropriate size, an Heating and Cooling technician will use sizing software to ensure that they recommend a unit that accurately fits the size of your home.
When replacing an oversized furnace, the technician will perform a thorough inspection to ensure that replacement is the best option. In some cases, a simple repair or improved maintenance can restore the system.
At Mission Comfort, we will only suggest a replacement unit if we deem that it is essential. During every inspection, we thoroughly evaluate every component in your furnace to specifically locate the problem and determine the best solution. Should we deem that a replacement unit is the best option, we will help you find the best new furnace for your home.
Furnace Experts in Waldorf, MD
The team at Mission Comfort understands the importance of having a fully functional Heating and Air Conditioning system. We are passionate about helping Waldorf residents keep their homes comfortable year-round by providing unmatched heating and air conditioning services.
From system repairs to installations, Mission Comfort does it all. If you suspect that your furnace is too big for your home, call us right away.
It can be easy to put off calling the Heating and Air Conditioning technician when experiencing issues with your furnace. Unfortunately, minor inconveniences with your unit today can quickly escalate into more severe and costly problems tomorrow. Instead of waiting to pay higher repair and utility bills, let the experts at Mission Comfort help you restore or replace your system.
When it comes to finding the right size unit for your home, our team uses the latest innovative technology to get accurate measurements. We take the time to identify the issue and find the best unit for your home. Our goal is to help you keep your home comfortable year-round by extending the life of your furnace and reducing the need for repairs.
Contact us or check out our site to learn more about furnace replacement and repair services in Waldorf, MD.
Whether you are dealing with an oversized furnace or need a repair, the team at Mission Comfort is ready to help. Call us at (301) 701-3296 to schedule an inspection in Waldorf, MD.
