When referring to size in air conditioners, it doesn't refer to the physical dimensions of the appliance itself. Instead, it refers to the cooling capacity of the device measured in British Thermal Units(BTU). Whether choosing a window air conditioner or a central air unit, one will get the best efficiency, and therefore lower operating costs, if one chooses based on the size of the area the unit must cool.
To choose what size air conditioner is right for you, you need to first calculate the size of the home or office spaces that will be served by the air conditioner, in square feet.
How to Calculate Size?To calculate the size, simply multiply the length times the width of the room or area to be cooled. Then, as a practical number, multiply that total times 25 BTU. This allows ample cooling, whether it is a rainy, moist day or a hot, sunny, humid day.
Let’s say the room is 12 feet wide by 15 feet long.
That means 12x15=180 square feet.
Take the 180 sq. ft. times 120 BTU per square foot and you get the minimum BTU air conditioner you should buy.
That means 180x120= 21600 BTU cooling capacity is needed.
Too Big is not always Much BetterAn air conditioner too large can usually be overkill because it needs to be optimized for the room that is being cooled. To dispute the rumor that bigger is better, an air conditioner too large will cool more quickly, but that may impede the reason for running the air conditioner in the first place. This is because while it cools the air, the air conditioner is also extracting moisture from the air (humidity). Effectively, the air is also getting drier. Although the air may be cooler, if the unit doesn’t run long enough, the moisture cannot be extracted from the air properly. It would be like being outside camping on a cool, clammy, foggy night. Also, an air conditioner that is too large will cycle on and off frequently.
Therefore, one should ensure they measure the area of the home to be cooled, calculate BTU needs and size the air conditioner properly. Your local appliance store or heating and cooling center can aid you in selecting the proper air conditioner size for your home. Remember, too little is never enough and too much of a good thing can be bad.
Related:Different Modes in Air Conditioner: Fresh Air, Gentle Wind, I Feel, Turbo, Sleep, Eco
Some other thumb rules to factor in –● When you multiply the length by the width, add together the size of rooms that aren’t separated by doors, because the air conditioner will need to cool both spaces.
● If the room is away from the sun most of the day, look to reduce capacity by 10 percent.
● If the room is very sunny, increase the estimated capacity by 10 percent.
● If more than two people regularly (at least 40% of the time the air conditioner can expect to be active) occupy the room, add 600 BTU for each additional person.
● For a small bedroom, home office, or guest room, look for an air conditioner with a capacity of to 12000 BTU.
● To cool a bigger or busier room, you’ll want to step up to a midsized air conditioner rated at 16000 to 20000 BTU, but also watch out for noise.
● For a living room or family room, you’ll want a large air conditioner with 21000 to 26000 BTU, especially if you have an open floor plan
TCL AIR CONDITIONER SIZES
To speak to an expert, call TCL customer service on 1800-102-0622. You can also visit TCL.
FAQs
Room air conditioner with Inverter compressor
| Cooling Area | Air conditioner Size – Indicative |
|---|
| 80-120 Sq. Ft | 12000 BTU (1.0 Tr) |
| 140-160 Sq. Ft | 18000 BTU (1.5 Tr) |
| 180-200 Sq. Ft | 22000 BTU (1.8 Tr) |
| 240-260 Sq. Ft | 30000 BTU (2.5 Tr) |
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To calculate the size, simply multiply the length times the width of the room or area to be cooled. Then, as a practical number, multiply that total times 25 BTU. This allows ample cooling, whether it is a rainy, moist day or a hot, sunny, humid day. Let's say the room is 12 feet wide by 15 feet long.
How do I determine what size air conditioner I need? ›
Calculate cooling capacity: You can use a rule of thumb that suggests around 20 BTUs per square foot of space to get an idea of how much cooling capacity you need. Multiply the room's square footage by 20 to get a basic estimate of the required cooling capacity.
Is 1.5 ton AC enough for what room size? ›
1.5 ton AC is enough for what size of room: 120 to 179 square feet. 2 ton AC is enough for what size of room: bigger than180 square feet.
What size air conditioner do I need for 2000 sq ft house? ›
2,000 square feet x 20 BTU = 40,000 BTU. Since 1 ton equals 12,000 BTU, you'll divide 40,000 by 12,000 with a math equation that looks like this: 40,000 BTU / 12,000 BTU = 3.33333 tons. Round that up, and you're looking at a 3.5-ton AC unit.
What size air conditioner do I need for a 3000 square foot house? ›
If you're wondering what size air conditioner do you need for a 3000 sq ft house. The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) recommends a cooling capacity of around 48,000 BTUs per hour or 3.5 to 4 tons for a house of this size.
How do I know if my AC unit is too big? ›
Here are four classic symptoms of an oversized unit:
- High Humidity. Oversized units don't run long enough to dehumidify indoor air. ...
- Short Cycling. Because it's so large, an oversized AC meets your home's cooling load in ten minutes or less and then cycles off. ...
- Hot and Cold Spots. ...
- Shorter Lifespan and Higher Utility Bills.
Top 10 AC brands in India
- Samsung.
- Croma.
- Voltas.
- Blue Star.
- Haier.
- Panasonic.
- Daikin.
- Lloyd.
The appropriate size of an air conditioner is determined by the area of the room or space that needs to be cooled. A 1 ton air conditioner is suitable for a room or space of up to 120-140 square feet, while a 2 ton air conditioner is suitable for a room or space of up to 300-350 square feet.
How many BTU do I need for a 20x20 room? ›
APPROXIMATE BTU OUTPUT NEEDED BY SQUARE FOOTAGE
| APPROX. SQ.FT. | RECOMMENDED INSULATION |
|---|
| Up to 200 | 6,000 BTU |
| Up to 400 | 12,000 BTU |
| Up to 600 | 18,000 BTU |
| Up to 800 | 24,000 BTU |
17 more rowsIf your room size is anywhere between 150 square feet and 250 square feet, then a 1.5-ton AC can be a good choice. But if your room is larger than the above-mentioned size, then you should go for a 2-ton AC.
Which AC is best for bedroom in India? ›
1. Croma 1 Ton 4 Star inverter split AC. The Croma 1 Ton 4 Star inverter split AC can stake a claim for being the best AC for bedrooms up to 130 sq ft. The USP of this split AC from Croma is its 4-star energy rating with a power consumption of only 955W.
How many square feet will 1.5 ton cool? ›
However, a general guideline is that a 1.5-ton AC unit is typically suitable for cooling an area of around 600 to 900 square feet. This can vary depending on various factors such as the insulation of the area, ceiling height, number of windows, and the local climate.
What size air conditioner do I need for 2500 sq ft house? ›
Step 5: Match your square footage to an HVAC size chart
| Home Square Footage | Air Conditioner Size (Tons) |
|---|
| 1,000-1,500 square feet | 2 tons |
| 1,500-2,000 square feet | 3 tons |
| 2,000-2,500 square feet | 4 tons |
| 2,500-3,300 square feet | 5 tons |
1 more rowSquare Footage
| Area being cooled, in Square Feet | Capacity (in BTU's) needed = square feet * 35 |
|---|
| 1,200 – 1,400 | 42,000 – 49,000 BTU's |
| 1,400 – 1,500 | 49,000 – 52,500 BTU's |
| 1,500 – 2,000 | 52,500 – 70,000 BTU's |
| 2,000 – 2,500 — 2,000 * 35 = 70,000 | 70,000 – 87,500 BTU's |
10 more rowsAir Conditioning Square Footage Range by Climate Zone
| ZONE 1 | ZONE 2 |
|---|
| 3 Tons | 1501 - 1800 sf | 1501 - 1850 sf |
| 3.5 Tons | 1801 - 2100 sf | 1851 - 2150 sf |
| 4 Tons | 2101 - 2400 sf | 2151 - 2500 sf |
| 5 Tons | 2401 - 3000 sf | 2501 - 3100 sf |
3 more rowsAir Conditioner Room Size Chart
| Room Area | Type of AC Capacity | Most Common AC Size |
|---|
| 10m2 – 20m2 | Small Capacity | 2.5kW |
| 20m2 to 30m2 | Small or Medium Capacity | 3.5kW |
| 30m2 to 45m2 | Medium Capacity | 5.6KW |
| 45m2 to 60m2 | Medium or High Capacity | 7kW |
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