When it comes to heating and cooling, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Choosing the correct size for your HVAC system is crucial to ensuring the best performance and efficiency. Pick a size that’s too small, and your unit will fail to fully cool the room. On the other hand, a unit that’s too large will begin racking up additional energy costs and could also make your home too hot or too cold.
Let our HVAC experts at M&M give you the quick 411 on air conditioning sizing and teach you how to quickly estimate the correct size for your home.
Cooling Capacities and BTU
Air conditioning capacity is measured in British Thermal Units, or BTUs. A good rule of thumb to follow is that you’ll need approximately 20 BTU for every square foot of floor area. However, there are also other considerations to take into account before calculating the capacity, including the height of your ceiling as well as how many windows and doors are in a specific room.
Exceeding Limits
An HVAC technician should be able to accurately calculate the capacity you need for your air conditioner. You’ve probably heard the old saying ‘bigger is better,’ but this doesn’t necessarily apply to your cooling units. When you choose an air conditioner that’s too large for your home’s needs, you’re sacrificing your indoor air quality. While it will cool your home more quickly, it will also dry out the air significantly, which can lead to other, bigger problems.
Measuring Air Conditioner Size
The first thing you need to determine is the size of your room. To get the floor area, simply multiply the width of the room by its length. Next, multiply the result by 20 to get a standard starting point. For rooms with natural shading, reduce the capacity by 10%. Otherwise, increase it by 10% if it’s exposed to too much sun. Add another 600 BTU for every person who will be using the room. Finally, increase it by 4,000 BTU if the room is a kitchen.
Get the Right Size of Air Conditioners With M&M
M&M is your leading provider of air conditioning repair, installation and maintenance. Give us a call at (209) 952-6580 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a service visit and get a free estimate on new installations today.
