How Do I Calculate What Size Air Conditioner I Need?

What size air conditioner or furnace practice I need for my habitation? An oversized or undersized slice of garment won't intermission your bank – it might make you feel bad, and you'll move on – but it's not the aforementioned case when you accidentally purchase the incorrect sized air workout. If information technology's besides big, there could be frequent short cycling and even a possibility of a system's breakup. If it's too pocket-sized, the Ac won't cool your identify correctly, and the not-terminate running volition go out you stuck with skyrocketing energy bills. Therefore, the best way to make sure cost-effective, comfortable cooling is to ensure you have the right sized Air Conditioner.

Choosing the Right Size for Your Air Conditioner

No worries if you are unfamiliar with the "seemingly" intimidating process of sizing an air conditioner. Although finding the right size air-conditioning requires some evaluations, it isn't equally difficult equally it seems. So, why play the guessing game when y'all utilize can use this guide to determine the right size air conditioning unit of measurement for your cooling needs.

At that place are some measurements you need to know earlier ownership an air conditioner. First, let's empathize the basics of ac sizing:

What is BTU?

The most of import parameter is the cooling capacity (measured in BTU/hr). BTU (British Thermal Unit) and BTUh (British Thermal Unit Per Hr) are ii units used to measure air conditioner'due south cooling chapters.

BTU can be explained as the measurement of the amount of heat an AC unit of measurement removes from the air, and BTUh is a measurement of the Air conditioning'due south ability to cool your space in an hour, also known as tonnage (tons). Therefore, your one-ton Ac unit will remove 12,000 BTUs in one day. Similarly, a two-ton AC unit will remove 24,000 BTUs.

How do I calculate the right size air conditioner?

To cull what size air conditioner is right for you lot, you need to first summate size of the room's square footage. Free energy Star recommends that you need about twenty to xxx BTUs per foursquare foot of cooling capacity.

For example, a room that is 100 to 150 foursquare feet would crave 5000 BTUs.

How To Measure Foursquare Footage of a Room?

Commencement, y'all demand to make up one's mind room's square footage by using the following formulas:

For a room that is rectangular or foursquare, multiply the room'due south width by the length to measure out the floor square footage.
For a triangular room, y'all need to multiply the room'southward width by length and and then split up past 2.

How To Calculate Air Conditioner Cooling Chapters?

Use the post-obit formula to determine an estimated tonnage of your air conditioner:

Multiply the square footage of your home or room with 25 (it is estimated energy required to cool one square pes).
Separate it by 12,000 and decrease by i to detect Ac tonnage.

Suppose you have a 1,400-foursquare foot home that needs air conditioning.
The calculations would be: (ane,400 x 25) / 12,000 – ane = 2 Tons

Note: If y'all alive in a primarily dry or hotter area, don't subtract past 1.

Air Conditioning Sizing Nautical chart

Once you find the square footage of your room or abode, the following capacity chart can assistance you lot choose the correct cooling capacity:

SQUARE FOOTAGE (AREA TO Exist COOLED)	BTUs Per Hour	Air-conditioning Unit of measurement Tonnage
450 upwards to 550	12,000	1 Ton
550 up to 700	14,000	1.5 Tons
700 up to 1000	18,000	one.5 Tons
i,000 up to 1,200	21,000	2 Tons
1,200 upward to 1,400	23,000	2 Tons
1,400 upward to 1,500	24,000	2 Tons
i,500 up to 2,000	30,000	2.5 Tons
2,000 upwards to 2,500	34,000	3 Tons

It is of import to understand that the area to be cooled isn't the only factor y'all need to consider when determining what size air conditioner – other factors do affect the unit'south cooling capacity.

Factors That Bear upon the Size of Air Conditioner

Having a powerful air conditioner isn't plenty to avoid a vicious cycle of high-energy tariffs. Consider the following factors that may affect your air conditioner's cooling capacity:

What is the local climate similar? Is it likewise hot and dry?
Which management does the habitation/room face up? More sun exposure will increase heat gain, and that's why homes facing south or westward have longer to cool
How well is your home/room insulated?
How many windows do you have in the room? How big are they? Generally, the bigger the windows, the more heat proceeds there volition exist
How high are the ceilings?
How many occupants are in the room or house?

Why Size Matters?

In gild to become your arrangement to run efficiently, information technology needs to be sized properly. If not, yous could confront issues, the incorrect size Air-conditioning unit could price yous money.

The Problem with An Undersized Air Conditioner

Wanting a pocket-sized-sized air conditioner for an average-sized room or home can be tempting because of the commuter behind it – to lower upfront and running costs. Withal, there are three primary problems with installing an undersized AC:

Problem #1: Soaring Energy Bills

Although a smaller unit will cost less than a larger cooling system, it will be running nigh all the fourth dimension in a futile attempt to absurd your space properly. And no surprises here as the energy bill volition start to increment, and you'll cease up paying manner more.

Problem #2: Frequent Wear and Tear and Unexpected Breakdowns

As your air conditioner will keep on running in a desperate effort to reach and maintain a temperature, information technology will inevitably atomic number 82 to more wear and tear on the unit. As a result, your AC unit of measurement will breakdown frequently.

Trouble #3: Temperature Inconsistencies

A smaller Ac unit may non take the necessary chapters to cool down your space to the desired temperature. As a result, y'all will experience temperature inconsistencies most of the fourth dimension.

The Problem with An Oversized Air Conditioner

Size doesn't always thing, particularly in the instance of air conditioners. Near 84% of homes in the United states take some type of ac, and, unfortunately, most of the systems are either also big or likewise small. By installing an oversized air conditioner, you could feel the following issues:

Problem #1: Short Cycling

A bigger AC unit will endeavor to cool down your place faster, only you could terminate up with common cold and hot spots throughout the house. Another result is that the AC will plow off afterwards quickly cooling your home. This continuous bike of turning on and off will increase your energy bills and article of clothing out the unit of measurement.

Problem #2: Backlog Moisture

As the air conditioner has to run for a while to remove moisture, information technology will not be able to perform properly due to constant starting and stopping. You may even have to buy an expensive dehumidifier to counter the problem, but it will nullify the purpose behind buying a smaller unit in the kickoff place.

Trouble #3: Shorter Lifespan

As if higher energy bills and inconsistent temperature weren't plenty, an oversized air conditioner doesn't concluding as well long (the average Ac unit of measurement can last 15 to 20 years). It is because of the short cycling issue.

Consult With an Expert

Choosing the right size air conditioning is pivotal to achieve the system'southward optimal performance and energy level. While determining a suitable Air-conditioning unit is relatively uncomplicated, it'due south much safer to consult with an HVAC practiced in your area to make up one's mind the proper size.