How Many BTU Air Conditioner Do I Need?
Choosing the Right BTU Air Conditioner
As summertime temperatures climb in the Delaware Valley, your aging air conditioner could start to struggle. To replace your air conditioner, you need to know the answer to “How many BTU air conditioner do I need?”. You will enjoy the greatest comfort and energy efficiency with the right BTU air conditioner for your home. As a homeowner, you can calculate an approximate answer. This information helps you prepare a budget.
Match BTU to Your Home’s Square Footage
BTU is the abbreviation for British thermal unit, a measurement of energy output. In regards to air conditioners, the BTU number on the appliance describes how many tons of air volume it can effectively cool. Technically, the BTU reflects how much heat energy it can remove from circulating air. You will also sometimes see the abbreviation BTUh. The “h” indicates the cooling capacity per hour.
To know the volume of air in your home, you measure the square footage. BTU calculators for air conditioners then translate this number into tons. You need an air conditioner with the capacity to treat the number of tons of air inside your living space.
Consult an Air Conditioner BTU Chart
Air conditioner manufacturers provide charts for their appliances that display square footage capacities.
Examples of square footage and air conditioner BTUs:
- 700 to 1,000 square feet 18,000 BTUs
- 1,000 to 1,200 square feet 21,000 BTUs
- 1,200 to 1,400 square feet 23,000 BTUs
Other Factors Besides Square Footage
The air volume of your home’s square footage represents the primary factor for choosing an air conditioner. However, the characteristics of your home influence the answer to “how many BTU air conditioner do I need?”.
Issues that impact cooling:
- Level of insulation
- Sun exposure
- Quality and number of doors and windows
- High ceilings
- Climatic conditions
- Ductwork
A home evaluation by the team at Oliver will identify any issues impacting your air conditioner options. We can calculate the optimal BTU for your specific needs.
Relationship Between BTU and Air Conditioner Cost
As you look over air conditioner prices, you’ll see that units with high BTUs cost more than low BTUs. A more powerful appliance requires more resources to build, which accounts for the prices rising in relation to the BTU number.
Why Air Conditioner Size Matters
A lower BTU air conditioner could tempt you as a means of saving money. Going that route will disappoint you. An air conditioner with insufficient cooling capacity produces poor results. The appliance will consume extra energy and fail to cool your home. You want a BTU level that meets or slightly exceeds a house’s cooling capacity needs. Going too far beyond what you need will reduce performance as well.
How Many BTU Air Conditioner Do I Need? – Solved
An HVAC specialist from Oliver will find the BTU sweet spot for your air conditioner. We apply our experience with our region’s climate, insulation, and ductwork to calculate BTU. In this way, you receive precise recommendations for air conditioners perfectly suited to your home. Contact us today about a new air conditioner.
