What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need?

“What size air conditioner do I need?” is one of the most important questions to answer when buying a new cooling system. Choosing the wrong size AC will not cool your house adequately and can also lead to unnecessary energy costs and shorten the lifespan of your air conditioner.

To help you make an informed decision when buying an air conditioning unit, let’s take a look at why air conditioner sizing is so critical and how the HVAC technicians at Grove Heating & Cooling determine the right size AC for homes.

Air Conditioner Sizing Explained

Many people have been led to believe that bigger is better, leading them to consider buying an air conditioner that is larger than necessary. 

However, when it comes to air conditioning sizing, what matters isn’t how much equipment you purchase, but what size it is. And when we talk about an air conditioner’s size, we don’t mean the unit’s dimensions! Air conditioners are sized in tons, and here, a ton isn’t a measure of weight – it’s a measure of cooling capacity. 

One ton of cooling capacity equals 12,000 British thermal units (BTUs) of heat removed from an area in one hour. For homes, air conditioner sizes typically range between 1.5 to 5 tons.

Why Is Air Conditioner Size So Important?

Having the right size air conditioner for your home is extremely important. An AC unit that is too large or too small can be a major inconvenience resulting in either an inefficiently cooled room or unnecessarily high energy bills. To make sure you get what you need, it’s best to research what size air conditioner you need and work with a qualified HVAC professional to ensure the proper measurements and calculations are conducted to find the right fit.

Air Conditioner Sizing Factors

There are several factors an HVAC contractor takes into consideration to find you the right fit. The square footage of a home helps us calculate how much cooling will be necessary to cool the area efficiently. Other factors include climate, insulation levels, window sizes/orientation/shading levels, ceiling height, and the orientation of rooms (south-facing rooms get more sun than north-facing rooms). All of these factors work together to ensure that your new air conditioner is adequate enough to keep your house cool during hot summer days without overworking itself or consuming too much energy.

Contact Grove Heating & Cooling for Air Conditioning Installation Service

It’s easy to overlook why sizing matters when buying an air conditioner, but it’s essential for comfort, the longevity of use, and efficiency. With all these factors in mind combined with a professional assessment by an experienced HVAC contractor, you can rest assured knowing that you have chosen the correct size AC unit tailored towards meeting all of your needs while saving money in the long run. Don’t guess when it comes to picking the right sized air conditioner – contact Grove Heating & Cooling today to receive a free estimate for a new air conditioner system.

Google Reviews