Follow these easy steps:
- Select the region you live in according to the color keyed map below.
- Select the system type needed for your home.
- Select the optional heating type.
- Enter the approximate square feet of the area in your home that you need to heat/cool.
- Click the "Calculate System Size" button.
How to properly size your air conditioner?
- Ceiling height. Not all homes have standard ceiling heights. ...
- House style. Two homes that have the same square footage may require different-sized air conditioning systems. ...
- Local climate. ...
- Size, type, and number of windows. ...
- Insulation. ...
- Other factors. ...
What size air conditioner is right for my home?
There are several factors to consider, which include:
- The square footage and volume of space in your home
- The number of windows and their age and condition
- The amount of shade or sun exposure your home gets
- The state of your ducts and ventilation
- How many windows face south
How to choose the right size air conditioner?
What to Look for in an Air Conditioner
- Style. One of the first things you’ll want to consider is the style of air conditioner that works best for you.
- Unit size. If you’re going with a window or wall unit, measure the height and width of the opening to ensure you pick a compatible unit.
- Room size and location. ...
- Noise level. ...
How small is the smallest air conditioner?
What is the smallest portable air conditioner on our list? The smallest portable AC on the list is the EdgeStar AP8000W based on its height of 24.75 inches. This mini AC is more than 1 inch shorter than the BLACK&DECKER BPACT08W and 2-3 inches shorter than other brands on our list.
What size AC unit do you need for a 2000 sq ft house?
If your home is 2000 square feet, you can calculate your HVAC needs the same as you would for a 1600 square foot home. Assuming one ton of cooling capacity can cool 400 square feet of your home, you'll need about 5.0 tons of air conditioning capacity. Multiply this by 12,000 BTUs, and you'll get 60,000 BTUs.
How many square feet will a 3 ton AC cool?
How many square feet does a 3-ton air conditioner cover is quite easy to answer as well. 3-ton is equal to 36,000 BTU. If you apply the 20 BTU per sq ft rule of thumb, you can see that a 3-ton air conditioner cools about 1,800 square feet spaces.
How big of an AC unit do I need for a 1500 sq ft house?
1,201 to 1,500 square feet homes should use 2.5 tons. If your home size is higher than the number above but is less not more than 1,800 square feet, you can go for a three-ton A/C. Choose a unit that is 3.5 tons if your home measures more than 1,800 but not more than 2,100 square feet.
What size AC do I need for 1250 sq ft?
ZONE 1ZONE 21.5 Tons600 - 900 sf600 - 950 sf2 Tons901 - 1200 sf951 - 1250 sf2.5 Tons1201 - 1500 sf1251 - 1550 sf3 Tons1501 - 1800 sf1501 - 1850 sf3 more rows
Can I replace a 3 ton AC with a 4 ton?
Proper size is a must. There is no reason for you to install a 4 ton if you can use a 3 ton. The low stage isn't that much less than full capacity because of the unloading scroll systems.
How much square footage can a 4 ton AC unit cool?
2,500 square feetStep 5: Match your square footage to an HVAC size chartHome Sq FootageAir Conditioner Size (tons)600 - 1,000 square feet1.5 tons1,000 – 1,500 square feet2 tons1,500 – 2,000 square feet3 tons2,000 – 2,500 square feet4 tons1 more row
How many sq ft can a 2 ton AC cool?
about 900-1,400 square feetFor those of you that don't understand the way AC systems work, a 2-ton unit typically provides cooling for about 900-1,400 square feet of space – give or take.
What size AC do I need for 1700 sq ft?
Furnace and Air Conditioner size for a detached 2-storey homeHouse square footage *Furnace Output [BTU/hr]Air Conditioner size [ton]up to 1300 sq ft40,000 BTU/hrup to 2 ton1300 to 1700 sq ft45,000 BTU/hr2 ton1700 to 2500 sq ft55,000 BTU/hr2.5 ton2500 to 3500 sq ftup to 65,000 BTU/hr3 to 3.5 ton3 more rows•May 26, 2017
What size AC do I need for 1200 sq ft?
What Size AC Unit Do I Require For 1200 Square Feet? In general, a unit that's 1.75 to 2 Ton or 21,000 to 24,000 BTU should be adequate for a room that's 1200 square feet.
How many square feet can a 2.5 ton AC cool?
For example, a 30,000 BTU, 2.5-ton air conditioner is made to effectively cool a home between 1,200 and 1,500 square feet. A slightly larger 3,600, 3-ton unit, is designed for homes that are 1,500 to 1,800 square feet.
What size AC unit do I need for a 1300 sq ft house?
The 1,300-Square-Foot Answer When looking for the quick answer to how much air-conditioning power you'll need to adequately cool a 1,300-square-foot space, the answer is 23,000 BTUs per hour of air conditioning power. This is the base capacity needed for a 1,200- to 1,400-square-foot house.
What size AC do I need calculator?
The size of your air conditioner depends on the size of the room to be cooled. Generally, you will need about 1.25-1.7 kilowatts of power per 10 sqm if the ceiling height is standard. To work out what size you need multiply the width by length of the room to get you floor space....What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need?Room Size (m²Cooling Capacity709.0 kW8 more rows
What size air conditioner do I need for a 3500 square foot House?
Many homes especially in warm climates have more than one central air conditioner. For example, consider a 3500 square foot home in Zone 2 with a Very Sunny rating. It would need between approx. 76,000 and 104,000 BTUs of cooling!
Is 3-ton AC big enough?
Pro Tip: as a rule of thumb, the maximum AC unit size you need to install should not be more than 15% more than the BTU's you need to cool your house. This means that if your house requires a 24,000 BTU unit (2 tons), you should not install one that is larger than 30,000 BTU's (3 tons) to maintain energy efficiency.
What size air conditioner do I need for a 3000 square foot House?
5-tonSince larger homes are costlier to cool, you'll need a 5-ton unit to cool a 3,000 square-foot home.
What size air conditioner do I need for a 2400 square foot home?
The answer to the question, “what size AC unit for 2400 square feet?”, would be, is 60,000 BTUs or 5 Tons. It's possible to fall between unit sizes, so if that's the case with you, then you should choose the next higher size. That way, you can be sure that the AC unit can still cool a given area sufficiently.
Why is it important to sizing an air conditioner?
When sizing air conditioners, be careful not to make the mistake of getting one that is too large. If the system you install is too large for the space, it will short cycle. In other words, the compressor will not run long enough to dehumidify the space and will limit your comfort. In addition, it will cycle on and off more frequently, increasing operating costs and reducing the system life. Proper air conditioner sizing is critical to optimize performance.
How to calculate output of gas furnace?
Then, to calculate the output on a gas furnace, multiply its efficiency rating by its listed input rating for the actual Btu output of heat. For example, if a furnace has a listed input rating of 100,000 Btu's and an efficiency rating of 80%, it will produce
What determines BTU per square?
Variables such as your insulation, type and number of windows, number of stories, construction type, etc. will greatly affect the required Btu's per square for both heating and cooling. A general rule of thumb is that if your home is well insulated with newer style windows, you can select the smaller size system that falls within your total square footage.
Why do you need a 2 story home?
If your home is two story it will place less of a load on the system in the downstairs area as the second floor acts as additional insulation. If your home is not well insulated, has older style windows, and/or a larger than average number of windows, you will want to select the larger system which falls within your square footage range. The less insulated and more windows within the environment, the more likely you will experience greater air and heat loss.
When to use the lower number or higher number?
Use the lower of the two numbers if your home is well insulated and the higher number if it is older or poorly insulated. (Hint: Use the larger of the two numbers above if you're unsure of your home's insulation)
Does the manufacturer list the size of an air conditioner?
The manufacturers do not list the air conditioner size on the unit. The system capacity will be coded into the model number of the outdoor unit. For example, model GSX140241K is a 2 ton unit.
How many BTU per square foot?
A BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is a rating that measures the energy your AC uses in one hour to remove heat from your indoor air. The BTU of your HVAC system should be based on the square footage of your home, insulation quality, climate zone, and ductwork.
What is split system air conditioner?
Split-system air conditioners are likely what you envision when you think of an HVAC unit . These systems include an outdoor unit and an indoor unit that work together to create the desired temperature and indoor humidity level for your home. Refrigerant runs through both units during the cooling or heating cycle and the conditioned air is delivered through your home’s ductwork.
What is a package AC system?
Packaged AC systems are the all-in-one solutions for homeowners who need to conserve space or need flexible options for where the HVAC equipment can be installed. The primary components, like the evaporator, compressor, and condenser, are stored in one cabinet. The outdoor cabinet is typically placed on a concrete slab outside the home. Packaged systems deliver cool air through the home’s ductwork.
What is HVAC.com?
At HVAC.com, our writers create solutions that put you in control of your HVAC system. Our product reviews and recommendations are researched and backed by real buyers and industry experts, not dictated by our partners.
Do square feet factor into HVAC?
A thorough evaluation of your house will help you understand how BTUs, climate, and, yes, square footage all factor into your air conditioning tonnage needs.
Does AC size matter?
When it comes to optimal AC performance, size does matter. A unit that’s too small for your home will cause the system to run constantly and leave you with an ever-rising energy bill. If the system is too big, the air will be cooled quicker than the system can dehumidify the space. You’ll be left with a humid, sticky environment.
Do you need ductwork for ductless air conditioner?
The pipes are filled with refrigerant that absorbs and releases heat to maintain the desired temperature. Ductwork isn’t required with this system. Single-zone and multi-zone systems are available and best serve homes where a different temperature is desired in specific spaces.
What size of air conditioner should I get for my room?
So, you finally decided to buy or upgrade your air conditioner to keep your room from getting too hot. While deciding to regulate the temperature and humidity of your house is the easy part, it is a good thing to know that air conditioners come in many different sizes.
How much BTU per foot for an air conditioner?
Input it into our air conditioner room size calculator to apply any necessary adjustments. We need to add 1000 BTU/hr for each foot, if the ceiling is over 8 feet tall.
What is a BTU?
The British Thermal Unit, or BTU, is a unit of heat that we use to classify the capacity of a cooling or heating appliance. One British Thermal Unit is the amount of heat energy required to raise one pound of water's temperature by 1 °F.
Why is it important to choose the right size air conditioner?
Choosing the right air conditioner for a given room size is essential if you want to minimize your electricity bill. A small air conditioner will have a hard time cooling a large room, or it might not be able to cool it at all. On the other hand, choosing a huge air conditioner could cool ...
Can an air conditioner cool a room?
On the other hand, choosing a huge air conditioner could cool the room very fast but won't dehumidify the room at all. This particular instance leaves the room cold and, at the same time, clammy, which is not comfortable at all. Therefore, it is crucial to decide what size of air conditioner you need before buying one.
What size AC do I need?
Getting the right size AC unit for your house is very important if you want to have the desired level of comfort and good energy efficiency. The smallest central air conditioning unit is 18,000 BTUs (1.5 tons), while the largest is 60,000 BTUs (5 tons).
How big is a residential central AC system?
Residential Central AC systems come in a maximum size of 5-ton. Anything bigger, requires a commercial roof-top AC, which are in most situations not suitable for residential use. Final pricing for central AC also varies based on brand name, as well as other features.
How much does it cost to install a 2.5 ton central air system?
Before we get into sizing a residential central air unit, lets take a quick look at pricing. On average, homeowners report spending $3,900 – 5,000 to install a 2.5 ton central air system in a house that has functional ductwork.
How much does a 1 ton AC unit cost?
The smallest AC unit 1 ton (12,000 BTUs) costs $1,300 – $1,700. The 1-ton units are very rarely installed as they are too small for a “CENTRAL AC” application. If you need an AC that small, you are much better off going with a ductless mini-split system.
How much tonnage is needed for a poorly insulated house?
If there is poor insulation/efficiency in your home, its best to estimate higher tonnage. In the example above, you would estimate a 4 ton unit for a poorly insulated 2,200 sq.ft. house.
Why do AC systems fail?
Over 40% of all HVAC systems, including central air conditioners, fail due to incompetent, hack job installation. Especially if you are willing to spend extra money on a premium brand name AC unit, such as Carrier, don’t try to squeeze a few hundred dollars of savings by hiring a sub-par installer.
How much does electricity cost?
Today electricity is very expensive (anywhere from $0.12 / kWh in most southern states to $0.25-$0.45 / kWh in CA, MA, NJ, and most of New England) and you don’t want to waste it on running central air that is too big. On the other hand, installing a central AC that is too small will not keep your house cool! So while you will be saving money, you will not have the optimal temperature control.
How do you calculate BTU for a room?
There’s no simple formula for this. While it’s true that your home’s square footage is included in this measurement, it’s far from the only factor that needs to be taken into account.
Is it better to get a bigger air conditioner?
On paper, it seems to make sense. Why not get the biggest air conditioner for your money? However, when it comes to air conditioners, bigger isn’t always better.
What SEER rating do I need?
Larger or smaller air conditioners don’t necessarily have a higher or lower SEER rating.
How much SEER is needed for an air conditioner?
The higher the SEER rating, the more efficiently an air conditioner operates. Most air conditioners sold today are at least 13 or—here in California—14 SEER. In our state, that minimum will be 15 SEER by 2023. This makes them much more efficient than air conditioners manufactured decades ago, but not quite as efficient as a 19 or 20 SEER system. Even those systems, in turn, are not as efficient as Carrier’s Infinity® 26 Air Conditioner, which can reach up to 26 SEER!
What happens if your air conditioner is too small?
An air conditioner that’s too small—again, referring to BTU output, not physical size—will struggle to keep up with your home’s cooling needs. Unlike the bigger air conditioner, it will run constantly, fighting to keep its proverbial head above water.
What is the output of an air conditioner?
Used in a wide variety of sciences and industries, BTUs measure how much energy is needed to heat a pound of water by one degree. For our purposes, when discussing air conditioners, they measure how much energy is required to remove heat from the home. The higher a system’s BTU output, the more powerful it is.
Why are air conditioners measured in tons?
Why are air conditioners measured in tons? The answer dates back to the earliest days of refrigeration, when people transported large blocks of ice for cooling. A refrigeration ton is the rate at which a ton of ice (literally 2,000 lbs!) either melts or freezes at the freezing point over the course of 24 hours.
What is Air Conditioner Size calculation?
This air conditioner size calculator, also known as an AC Tonnage calculator, air conditioner size calculator helps you to choose what size of air conditioner, so By using the existing heating/cooling ducts that encompass the entire home. Of course, the choice of brand and air conditioner type still depends on you. This air conditioner calculator can only provide you the recommended output power of the AC, in Tons for your room.
How to choose the right size air conditioner?
Choosing the right sized air conditioner can be as easy as using a tape measure and a little mathematics.Simply measure the length and width of a room and figure the square footage.
What are the important Air Conditioner Size?
Finding the correct AC size (or other AC unit size) is a priority to making your home comfortable. An air conditioner is an investment, so finding the right one the first time can make the purchase process go much more smoothly. it is very important if you want to minimize your electricity bill. A small air conditioner will have a hard time cooling a large room, or it might not be able to cool it at all.
What is a BTU?
The British thermal unit (BTU or Btu) is a unit of heat; it is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of cooling or heating appliance. One British Thermal Unit is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by 1°F.
Can an air conditioner cool a room?
On the other hand, choosing a huge air conditioner could cool the room very fast, but won't dehumidify the room at all. This particular instance leaves the room cold and, at the same time, clammy, which is not comfortable at all. Therefore, it is crucial to decide what size of air conditioner you need before buying one.