Generally, you need 20 BTU for every square foot of space in your home. The BTU of your HVAC system should be based on the square footage of your home, insulation quality, climate zone, and ductwork.

So now you know why the right size AC is so important. A BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is a rating that measures the energy your AC uses in one hour to remove heat from your indoor air. The frequent turning on and off wears out the air conditioner parts more quickly, leading to a shorter lifespan. Since the fan doesn’t run very long, it doesn’t have time to circulate the air throughout your home evenly, creating uneven temperatures in your house. Anything with larger cooling capacity would be considered light commercial. Residential air conditioners usually range from 1.5 to 5 tons (or, 18,000 60,000 BTUh). One ton of cooling capacity is equal to 12,000 BTUh. Just like your car gets better mileage on the highway than in stop and go traffic, long run times are more efficient for your AC. Both offer a measurement of an air conditioner’s cooling ability over an hour’s time. While this might seem like a good thing, it actually results in: That means it will turn on, cool your home very quickly and then shut off. For example.Īn air conditioner that’s too small will run non-stop and never cool your home to your desired temperature.Īn an air conditioner that’s too big will short cycle. And shoes that are too big would trip you (or just fall off your feet).īuying the wrong size air conditioner has similar consequences. When you buy a new pair of shoes, do you purchase ones that are too small? Probably not.

Tons of ac per square foot