According to real estate listings, high ceilings are a feature that adds market value to a home. They also improve aesthetics by opening up the interior environment and giving the impression of space. However, ceilings higher than the standard measure will affect the functionality and efficiency of your HVAC system.
The higher your ceiling rises, the more the volume of contained air increases. The quantity of air volume retained in a room increases as the ceiling rises. The volume of air in a space directly impacts the room’s cooling and heating dynamics and temperature management.
As a result, the function of your furnace or air conditioner is affected in terms of system efficiency. That means your monthly bills are also affected. Read on to learn more about how your beautiful high ceiling will likely affect your HVAC system’s functionality.
Higher Ceilings Increase Spaciousness
One of the perks of having high ceilings in your home is opening up the space. However, the spaciousness increases the workload of the HVAC system since there is more volume or cubic feet to cool or heat.
You must be wondering how you can reconcile this issue to keep your high ceiling and still have a comfortable air-conditioned home. First, you need to ensure that the HVAC system is installed with the ceilings in mind. The contractor must specify the system to the correct size, considering ceiling height, square footage, and other criteria.
The Ductwork Design
The design of your ductwork might play a big role in whether or not your AC unit will perform effectively in your house with high ceilings. To begin with, keep in mind that heated air rises. This implies that the majority of your home’s warmth will climb to the ceiling in the winter. During summer, your HVAC system will have to overwork to cool the additional space above.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Your HVAC service provider can install a dual low- and high-return air register in rooms with a high ceiling. In the summer, you can utilize a magnetic cover or a damper to close the lower return, leaving the high return to transfer heat from the ceiling and relieve the AC of some of the load. During winter, reverse the settings to allow the risen warm air to travel downward and back to the furnace, making the furnace run more efficiently.
How to Efficiently Cool a Room With High Ceilings
The intolerable heat of the summer is inevitable. With a high ceiling house, you’ll appreciate a few tips on ensuring that your home stays habitable without blowing up your energy bill. As mentioned earlier, warm air rises, making it more difficult to keep a space with high ceilings warm throughout.
Nevertheless, keeping it cool is not as difficult in the summer. Unfortunately, because of the greater volume in the space, it will cost you more to cool a house with high ceilings than one with average ones. Below are tips to ensure you maintain reasonable energy bills while still enjoying the efficiency of your HVAC system.
The AC System Capacity
When cooling a space with vaulted ceilings, you must consider the square footage and volume. Make sure the air conditioner’s capacity corresponds to the size of the space. If the capacity is minimal, the system will run more frequently, consuming more power, and may not be able to cool the space adequately. Furthermore, pushing the system to work harder may break it sooner rather than later.
Location of Your Condenser
Positioning the condenser on the end of the house with the most shade is one way to ensure the best performance by your air conditioner. Allowing it to be exposed to direct sunlight makes it work harder and inefficiently.
In the shade, the unit will consume significantly less energy than if it is exposed to direct sunlight. Trees that provide shade can help the unit work more efficiently, but any growth should be kept at least a few feet away from the unit to avoid obstructing the airflow.
Ceiling Fans
You might want to consider installing ceiling fans. A ceiling fan installed on the ceiling above can be adjusted to blow downward, circulating accumulated heat down to your living spaces and keeping residents more comfortable in the winter. Ceiling fans specifically made for high-ceilinged areas often circulate larger air volume than regular fans.
High ceilings will undoubtedly improve aesthetics by opening up the interior and giving the impression of space. However, they will affect the performance and efficiency of your HVAC system due to the increased volume of air in the space. Apply the tips discussed herein to ensure your home stays comfortable throughout.
If you need any heating or air conditioning services for your Davenport, FL home, contact Underwood AC LLC. Our family-owned business has the knowledge and skills you need to maintain, repair, or replace your air conditioning and heating system. We also provide services for pool heating, heat pumps, ductwork, and home energy use. Our team is honored to assist you with all of your heating, cooling, and home comfort concerns. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
