Picking out a suitable AC unit helps you get the right cooling load for the rest of your house. A cooling system that is too small could leave warm spots in your home, and a system that is too large could be consuming more energy than you need.
To get the most efficient HVAC system, you should calculate your home’s British Thermal Unit (BTU) requirement. BTUs are the required energy it takes to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
Our team at Specialized Mechanical takes the time to decide what kind of AC unit would best fit your home’s needs. Here’s how we determine the right size cooling system for your home.
How To Calculate The Most Efficient AC
There are many factors that go into determining your home’s BTU requirements. It can fluctuate depending on how many windows or ceiling fans your home has, but typically, we can calculate the necessary measurements from your home’s square footage.
The larger your home is, the larger your HVAC system should be to perform higher BTUs. Here is a general range AC specialists use based on your home’s square footage:
- 1,200 square-foot home: 36,000 to 72,000 BTUs
- 1,500 square-foot home: 45,000 to 90,000 BTUs
- 1,800 square-foot home: 54,000 to 108,000 BTUs
- 2,100 square-foot home: 63,000 to 126,000 BTUs
- 2,400 square-foot home: 72,000 to 144,000 BTUs
While it can vary, these numbers give us an idea of how large of a system your home will need. Use this converter to get the most energy-efficient AC unit and a professional AC install for your home.
What If My Unit Is Too Big?
Some may think that bigger is better when it comes to your AC unit, but that’s not always the case. Your unit is responsible for providing cool air, but it’s also in charge of pulling that warm air out of your home. Large air conditioners don’t need to stay on for long periods of time in smaller homes, so they don’t properly extract that hot air in your home.
This could lead to humidity issues over time. Humidity leads to harmful growth in your vents from things such as mold and mildew. To avoid these issues, consider installing an air conditioner that will cycle enough to absorb that warm air.
What If My Unit Is Too Small?
A cooling system that’s too small has to produce more workload to cool the entire home. This means the cooling system will have to stay on for longer periods of time and consume more energy. This can inevitably raise your electric bill and cause other problems to the system.
You may find that some parts of your home are cooling unevenly. This could come from a smaller air conditioner that isn’t producing enough BTUs to reach each room of the home. Ask a specialist what your next step is if you’re having uneven cooling capacity in your home.
Specialized Mechanical’s Carlsbad AC Installation Services
If you’re ready to get an AC replacement or installation, contact Specialized Mechanical! Our team can get you started choosing the right air conditioner that fits your home’s needs. Contact us for a consultation today!
