Now that summer is over some air conditioning manufacturers will run specials on air conditioning units to entice consumers to purchase a new unit during the off season. If you like to get the biggest bang for your buck you may be interested calling around for air conditioning units this fall and winter and seeing if you can get a good deal. But how do you decide how big of an air conditioning unit you need for your home? Air Supply Heating & Air Conditioning can assist.
Undersized & Oversized Air Conditioner Problems
Purchasing an air conditioner that is too large or too small for your space can end up costing you unnecessary money in utilities. If people do not purchase the correct size air conditioning unit they typically will err on the side of too large thinking that it will provide better cooling for their home. When you purchase a unit that is too large, it is actually less effective. Energy Star explains that air conditioners remove both heat and humidity from the air. A larger unit will cool the room quickly but it will only remove some of the humidity in the air. When your room is too humid it leaves your room feeling damp and clammy. When your unit is the correct size it will remove the humidity effectively as it cools.
Manual J Calculation Formula
Thankfully for consumers there is a calculation that can help you determine the right amount of air conditioning unit your building requires. If you have a contractor come out and help you they will do a Manual J calculation. A Manual J calculation takes into account the square footage of the building, its exposure to sunlight, the state of its insulation, when the building was constructed, the climate zone of the building, and whether or not it is a residential or commercial property.
Calculate BTU Air Conditioner Formula
Residential buildings have different needs than commercial buildings. Air conditioning units have a BTU rating. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. The higher the BTU rating the more cooling power the unit provides. In Las Vegas it typically takes one ton of air conditioning to cool about 400 to 600 square feet. So if you have a 1,600 square foot home you will need 4.0 tons of air conditioning to cool your home. So your air conditioning unit will need to remove 4.0 x 12,000 BTUs, or 48,000 BTUs per hour to keep your home cool. Using the same math a 2,000 square foot home will need about 5.0 tons of air conditioning capacity. Multiply that by the 12,000 BTUs and you will need a unit that can move 60,000 BTUs per hour to keep your home at a stable temperature.
Commercial Air Conditioner Size Calculator
Commercial buildings have more visitors and typically more windows than residential buildings so their air conditioning units will be different. For commercial buildings you will need to divide the square footage of your building by 500. Then take that number and multiply it by 12,000 BTUs. Once you have done that you will need to add the number of additional heat that is generated by windows and workers. This number can help you decide what size of air conditioner you need.
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The math mentioned above is just a general rule of thumb. If you want some help figuring out how big of an air conditioning unit you need to purchase give Air Supply Heating & Air Conditioning a call. One of our technicians would be happy to help you determine what size of unit is the best for your house! Contact us today!