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What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need For My Home?
April 4, 2022 | Blog
Temperatures are beginning to rise for the spring and summer months, making it a great time to compare your cooling needs with your current system or think about a new AC installation. The size of an air conditioner is crucial, as it has a major impact on cooling capacity and energy use. If yours is not the right size for your space, you can waste money on the purchase, installation and each month, if it uses excess energy.
Shopping for a new air conditioner can be stressful, but Southern Air Mississippi has some helpful tools and information to make your decision a little easier. To learn more about which size unit efficiently suits your air conditioning needs, keep reading.
Common Home AC Installation Sizes
To decide what size AC unit is best for your home, you first need to figure out how much cooling power you need.
These are some factors that affect what size air conditioning system suits your home:
- Home square footage and layout (open floor plans require more cooling)
- Local climate and sun exposure
- Ductwork age and quality
- Number of windows you have and their size
- Age, amount and quality of your insulation
- Number of people in the home
- Number of heat-generating appliances
Cooling capacity is usually measured in tons, where one ton can cool 12,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) in one hour. Each BTU indicates the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree (Fahrenheit).
Common AC units range in standard sizes from 1.5 tons (18,000 BTUs) to 5 tons (60,000 BTUs). In our region, 3.5 or 4-ton units are good for homes around 2,000 sq. ft. Any over 2,500 sq. ft. probably need a 5-ton unit.
Is Your System Too Big/Small?
Without the correct size air conditioner, your home will not cool efficiently. This can result in uncomfortable or uneven temperatures and humidity throughout the house and higher energy costs.
If your air conditioner is too small, it will run constantly and likely is still unable to keep indoor temperatures as cool as you’d like. An inconsistent indoor temperature is very common with small units.
An AC system too large for a house will turn on and off frequently throughout the day because it is able to lower the indoor temperature very quickly. Constantly turning on and shutting down results in early wear and tear on your unit, shortening its lifespan.
There is a simple formula that can help you calculate if your AC is the right size for your Mississippi home. Take the total square footage of your home and multiply it by 20. Divide that number by 12,000, and this equals how many tons your unit should weigh.
Energy-Efficient AC Replacement In Mississippi
Investing in a new air conditioner is a huge decision and can feel like a guessing game. Our trustworthy team, at Southern Air Mississippi, can evaluate your home’s custom cooling needs and help you make the right choice that will provide maximum comfort in your McComb home during the hottest season of the year.
We provide the best solutions using top-quality products for maintenance, repairs and installation and won’t pressure you into sales. Contact us today and start experiencing the cooling comfort of your new AC system!
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