Equipping

After properly sealing and insulating, the third step in improving comfort and energy efficiency is ensuring that your home has the right equipment. Heating, air conditioning and water heating equipment is available in a variety of sizes, and achieving maximum efficiency and comfort requires matching the size of the equipment to the home's needs. Equipment that isn't the right size may not keep up with your needs, or may cost more to operate than it should. An air conditioner that's too small won't be able to cool your home adequately on the hottest days, while one that's too large may cool the air so quickly that it doesn't remove enough humidity.

For example, when it comes to selecting an air conditioner, heat pump or furnace, your heating and cooling contractor should perform a heat loss/heat gain calculation for your home, and take accurate measurements of the insulation levels, wall area and windows. Based on those calculations and measurements, the contractor can determine the heating or cooling capacity your home needs and recommend the right equipment.