When it comes to air conditioners, there are a lot of choices. It can be a good thing to have options, but we understand that it might be overwhelming as well. At Central Aire Heating & A/C, Inc., we’re often asked for our thoughts about the ideal size of an air conditioner. The short answer is that it depends.
The Importance of BTUs
We use the term BTUs to compare the size and power of air conditioning units. BTU stands for British thermal unit. It describes how much heat an AC can remove from a home in an hour. For your reference, one BTU is how much energy it takes to increase the temperature of a pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. An AC with more BTUs can remove more heat than one with fewer BTUs.
When shopping for an AC, you’ll want to get one with the right number of BTUs. If you don’t have enough power, your unit will struggle to do its job. If you have too much power, it will cycle on and off very frequently, and this can shorten the lifespan of the appliance.
BTUs and Tons
Whole-house air conditioners are described by using BTUs as well as tons. A 1-ton AC unit has approximately 12,000 BTUs, a 2-ton AC would have 24,000 BTUs and so on.
It’s generally recommended that a 600-square-foot space would require a 1-ton unit, and you can do the math from there. However, there are other things to take into consideration. These include:
- Layout of the home
- Number of windows and height of ceilings
- How much shade is on the home
- How many people live in the home
It can be smart to have a professional carefully assess your situation. Central Aire Heating & A/C, Inc. is available to help you with your AC considerations if you live in or around Bossier City. We have decades of experience with indoor air quality, heating and cooling repairs, maintenance, and installation. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
