How to Make Sure Your AC Unit is the Perfect Size for Your Home

When it comes to selecting the right size of air conditioner for your home, it is essential to take into account a variety of factors. To ensure optimal comfort and energy efficiency, you need to calculate the necessary cooling capacity based on room size, insulation, climate, and other variables. Consulting with a professional HVAC technician can save you time, money, and headaches in the long run. Here are some tips to help you determine if your AC unit is the right size for your home.

Calculate BTUs per Square Foot

Energy Star recommends between 20 and 30 BTUs per square foot of cooling power.

For example, a room between 250 and 300 square feet would need 7000 BTUs to cool down, while a room or house between 1,400 and 1,500 square feet would need 24,000 BTUs. You can use this conversion information to determine the size of your current air conditioning system (use the system model number, NOT the serial number).Take into Account Additional FactorsIt is important to consider additional factors such as climate, the location of windows and ducts when selecting the right size of air conditioner. One of those variables is insulation, and another set of variables is the type and number of windows in the space, the number of floors in the house, the type of construction, etc.

Consult with an Expert

In most cases, consulting with a professional HVAC technician when selecting the right size of air conditioner can save you time, money and headaches in the long run. Their experience and personalized recommendations will help you make an informed decision and enjoy optimal comfort and energy efficiency in your space.

Monitor Your AC Unit

You can also monitor your AC unit to determine if it is the right size for your home.

The first graph shows the average temperature for each hour of the day (green), the time the air conditioner was turned off during each hour (red) and the time it was turned on during each hour (blue). If there was only one hour in the whole day when the air conditioner was on rather than off, then it may be too small for your home.

Conclusion

By calculating the necessary cooling capacity based on factors such as room size, insulation, climate and other variables, you can choose an air conditioning unit that provides optimal comfort and energy efficiency. You don't need to be an expert in thermal units but you'll need to calculate these measurements to find the right air conditioning unit for your space. Professional HVAC technicians have an in-depth knowledge of air conditioning systems which allows them to precisely determine the optimal air conditioner size for their specific needs.