Like a lot of devices, most air conditioning units depend on electricity to function. Indeed, a central AC system often requires more electricity than any other item in the house – up to 5,000 watts when the unit first starts up – which makes it vital to measure both its proper voltage and its efficiency in cooling the home. In West Chester, OH, with its hot muggy summers, an efficient air conditioner is the first, best way to keep your home comfortable. Ensuring that your AC has the proper voltage is an important step in that process.
A central air conditioning system usually needs a dedicated 220-volt or 240-volt circuit for operation, which is usually added at the time of installation. If the voltage is too low, it may cause the air conditioning system to “hard start,” or stutter before it finally fires up. This can cause a great deal to wear and tear on the system, and in some cases may trip the circuit breaker.
Accordingly, it’s very important to determine the right size air conditioning unit to meet your particular needs. A trained professional can help you estimate the amount of power required to cool your home, usually measure in British Thermal Units (BTU) per hour. (Ironically, an air conditioning that is too large may cause as many issues as one that’s too small, since it will require more voltage to run and will likely cycle on and off too quickly.) Once you know that, an expert can add more circuits if needed, ensuring that your air conditioning has the proper voltage and keeping it running at maximum efficiency.
Efficiency is especially important with the hot summers in West Chester, OH. Air conditioning electrical bills can get out of hand, and you always want to use no more than the voltage you need. Bartels Heating & Cooling has years of experience handling air conditioning issues and can provide you with a reliable estimate of your air conditioning power needs. If more voltage is required, one of our trained professionals can perform the upgrade with your complete satisfaction in mind. Call us today to set up an appointment.