Dealing With an Oversized HVAC System

You might think that "more is better," but an oversized HVAC system is a bad thing. You see three major problems with an oversized HVAC system: it will cool and heat too quickly, it will waste energy, and it will lead to an increase of humidity in your home. But you can't always just replace an entire HVAC system, especially if you just got it installed. So what should you do?

Mix Warm Air Into the HVAC System

An HVAC system doesn't modulate the temperature that it puts out. It just puts out cold or hot air until the house temperature has reached the right temperature. So, when you set an AC to 60°, it won’t cool a room any faster than if you set it to 70°. The HVAC will cool at the same rate, it will just cool for longer when the target temperature is lower.

Because of this system, an oversized HVAC system puts out a lot of cold air at once. It can even overshoot the target and make the room much colder than it should be. One solution is to mix warm air into the HVAC system through the system's return. When you do this, your home cools more slowly.

If your major problem is the temperature, and you don't care about your energy bills, warm air in the HVAC can still be a viable option. You will just need a technician to balance your HVAC system.

However, this solution doesn't reduce the humidity in the air, which is another major problem. Plus, the HVAC system continues to work more frequently than it should, with greater power than it should. So, your HVAC system will burn a lot of energy.

Get a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat will learn about your HVAC system and how to operate it more efficiently. While it won't solve all the problems of an oversized system, it will at least be able to turn the system on and off at the times that are most energy-efficient, which will save you money.

A smart system will turn off the HVAC when your home gets too cold. It will also be able to calculate how quickly to heat and cool your home. It can also operate on a schedule. So if your system regularly overshoots and makes your home too cold, your smart thermostat can learn about the problem and eventually avoid it.

Install a Dehumidifier

Humidity is a problem with an oversized HVAC system, but you can reduce the humidity in your home with a separate dehumidifier. If your home is regularly humid, a dehumidifier is a good general option.

This doesn't fix the problem itself: it fixes the symptoms of the problem. Your bills will still be a little higher than average, because your HVAC system will kick on more than it needs to. But you won't experience mold and mildew, which are the primary issues with excess humidity. You can also install an air filter if you're concerned about your air quality.

Replace Your HVAC System

Of course, if none of these solutions work, you can just bite the bullet and replace the system. If your oversized system is fairly new, you can sell it, to recover some of your costs. If you were advised to install an HVAC system that was too large for your home, you may be able to connect with the seller, and discuss plans for moving forward.

If you have thought about an addition to your home, such as a sunroom, a finished attic, or a garage, this can also be a solution. Your HVAC system won't be oversized if the home itself is larger.

Are you not sure whether your HVAC system is too big? Do you need to find out more? Always Ready Repair can help. Contact Always Ready Repair for more information.