Does your home have tall ceilings? The average ceiling height of residential properties in the United States is 9 feet. Some homes, however, are built with taller ceilings than others. Tall ceilings create the perception of a more open indoor space, which many homeowners prefer. But tall ceilings can also affect heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) systems.
Larger Required AC System and Furnace
You’ll need a larger air conditioning system and furnace if your home has tall ceilings. Tall ceilings create more air volume, and with more air in your home, you’ll need an air conditioning system and furnace that can handle it.
Longer Cycles
Tall ceilings may promote longer cooling and heating cycles. Your air conditioning system and furnace will have to run for a longer period of time to achieve the temperature on the thermostat. Only after producing enough conditioned air – and distributing the conditioned air throughout your entire home – will the cycle end.
Increased Energy Usage
With longer cooling and heating cycles, tall ceilings will force your HVAC system to consume more energy. Whether it’s cooling or heating your home, your HVAC system will consume more energy. This is attributed to the fact that tall ceilings promote longer cooling and heating cycles. The longer your HVAC system runs, the more energy it will consume. Tall ceilings create more space or air volume in your home, so your HVAC system will have to consume more energy as it attempts to heat or cool your home.
Increased Comfort During the Summer
On the other hand, tall ceilings may leave you and your family feeling more comfortable during the hot summer months. Going back to the basics of physics 101, heat rises. When running your air conditioning system, hot air will naturally rise as the cool and conditioned air stays low. This means you’ll feel cooler and more comfortable.
Return Registers
Tall ceilings also offer an alternative placement for return registers. Return registers, of course, are vents that funnel air from your home’s living spaces to your HVAC system. In some homes, they are installed exclusively on the floor. In other homes, return registers are found on the ceilings.
Tall ceilings are particularly effective for return registers in hot climates, such as Georgia and the surrounding Southeast. They will draw hot air back to the air conditioning system. If you only have floor- or other low-level return registers in your home, the cool and conditioned air will be funneled back to your air conditioning system.