Here’s the thing about Houston winters: they’re mild compared to up north, but they’re also unpredictable. One week it’s 80°, the next week you’re wondering if the pipes will freeze. That constant up-and-down has Houstonians running their HVAC systems in weird patterns — heat in the morning, AC by afternoon. It’s also when energy efficiency myths start circulating faster than the neighborhood group text about the next cold front.

When it comes to your home’s HVAC system, size definitely matters — and not in the cheeky way you think. A system that’s too small will leave you sweating through Houston summers, and a system that’s too big will short-cycle, waste energy, and create hot-cold swings that drive homeowners crazy. Let’s break down how to choose the right size HVAC system — and why guessing based on your old system is one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make.