Xynfo.com - HVAC Questions
Common Questions About Heating, Ventilation and Cooling
How is an air conditioner sized?
The size of an air conditioner is a direct correlation to its energy efficiency and is based upon its cooling output. The measurement unit used is sizing an air conditioner is the British Thermal Unit, or BTU. A BTU is an indicator of how much energy an appliance uses. The fewer BTUs an air conditioner uses per hour, the more energy efficient that air conditioner is.
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Sizing an air conditioner is not only about the amount of BTUs it uses. Just because the BTU-per-hour on the label is the same as your old air conditioner doesn’t mean it would make a perfect replacement. In fact, the air conditioner label (or ‘nameplate’) should be used to compare models only when you already know the correct sizing specs for your unit.
To get a complete picture of your air conditioner needs, you’ll need to answer the following questions:
- How big is your house or business?
- What’s the climate like where you live?
- How much air do your doors and windows leak?
- How much heat do your other home furnishings give off (stove, lights, etc.)?
- How comfortably do you need your living space to be with respect to temperature?
- What measures have you taken (or plan to take) in regards to insulation protection?
Finding the answers to these questions will help determine what size air conditioner will best suit your home or business. Getting the right sized unit means looking at several factors. That is why looking at a label or nameplate on an air conditioner in the store is not an effective way to find the right one for your needs. The air conditioner best suited for you may not necessarily have the highest efficiency level or be of the greatest durability. And if you are hiring a contractor to put in your air conditioning unit, make sure that person takes the necessary steps to determine its correct size.