What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need for My Home?

So, you're looking to cool your home during the blistering heat of summer and before the autumn chill sets in. While air conditioners are available in many sizes, you're not looking for the largest one-this would be the lease efficient for a standard size home. You're looking to increase the condition of your air and not your power bill, right?

A happy medium, and even happier you
A general rule of thumb is that you will need 1 ton of air for every 500 feet of space you will be cooling within your home. Be weary of smaller air conditioners versus larger ones, as they contain smaller BTUs and will run constantly to try to keep up with your temperature requirements and humidity levels. While you may still feel stale air in your home, you'll also be displeased when you find the power bill is larger than last month.

What about a larger air conditioning unit-will this keep my home comfortable no matter what my square footage may be? Not necessarily, air conditioners tat are too large may cool your home faster, but with that-the humidity in your home is not having enough time to be extracted from the air at the same rate the unit is cooling. You see, they do not call them air conditioners for no reason-they truly condition the air you're breathing and sustain proper humidity levels. Also, the efficiency you lost with the smaller unit is even further gone with a unit too large from your home. Large units cycle on and off more often!

Measuring up to your cooling expectations
If you know the size of the area you want to cool, multiply the length by the width of the area (areas that you are not cooling do not apply). Take that number and multiply it by 25BTU. 25BTU is an umbrella for all types of climate changes, as well as a humid day. For instance, if you have a room that is 12 feet wide by 12 feet long-you will multiply 12x12, which equals 144 sq ft. So, 144x25 = 3600BTU meaning this is the minimum amount of cooling capacity needed for this space. Your cooling professional can perform this equation within seconds and have a number of how many BTUs will cool your home efficiently and effectively.