To estimate your AC tonnage needs, multiply the number of square feet you’re cooling times 25. This equals the total number of BTUs you need to adequately cool your space. Next, divide that number by 12,000 to determine the tonnage capability you need in your new air conditioning unit.

What does a 10 ton AC unit mean?

Tonnage = Cooling Power (Tonnage ≠ Weight) It’s a measure of how much heat the system can remove from a space over an hour. … Each ton equal 12,000 BTUs, so a 10 ton HVAC system removes 120,000 BTUs per hour when it runs.

How do I find the tonnage of my AC unit?

Simply divide the BTUs by 12,000 to calculate the tonnage of your unit. For example, if your air conditioner is 36,000 BTUs, you have a 3-ton unit. Some manufacturers bury tonnage or BTU information in their model numbers. Look for an even, two-digit number between 18 and 60.

How do you determine AC tonnage?

To estimate your AC tonnage needs, multiply the number of square feet you’re cooling times 25. This equals the total number of BTUs you need to adequately cool your space. Next, divide that number by 12,000 to determine the tonnage capability you need in your new air conditioning unit.

What is RTU tonnage?

The word “tonnage” is used to describe the cooling capacity of an air conditioner. One ton of cooling is the rate of heat transfer needed to freeze 2,000 lbs – or one ton – of water in 24 hours. This is equivalent to 12,000 Btu/hr.

What size AC unit do I need for a 2000 square foot home?

Home Sq FootageAir Conditioner Size (tons)600 – 1,000 square feet1.5 tons1,000 – 1,500 square feet2 tons1,500 – 2,000 square feet3 tons2,000 – 2,500 square feet4 tons

Why do we calculate AC tonnage?

The use of tons to measure cooling capacity comes from this time. A ton refers to the amount of heat it takes to completely melt a ton of ice. … The capacity of an air conditioner refers to the amount of heat it can remove. Rounding up 11,917 Btu/hr gives you 12,000 Btu/hr, which is one ton of air conditioner capacity.

What size air conditioner do I need for a 2400 square foot home?

The answer to the question, “what size AC unit for 2400 square feet?”, would be, is 60,000 BTUs or 5 Tons. It’s possible to fall between unit sizes, so if that’s the case with you, then you should choose the next higher size. That way, you can be sure that the AC unit can still cool a given area sufficiently.

How do you size an RTU?

1. 100,025 to 125,000 Btu is 8 to 10 tons.
2. 125,025 to 150,000 Btu is 10 to 12 tons.
3. 150,025 to 175,000 Btu is 12 to 13 tons.

How many square feet does a 3-ton AC unit cover?

ZONE 1ZONE 23 Tons1501 – 1800 sf1501 – 1850 sf3.5 Tons1801 – 2100 sf1851 – 2150 sf4 Tons2101 – 2400 sf2151 – 2500 sf5 Tons2401 – 3000 sf2501 – 3100 sf

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How many tons is 1200 square feet?

Area (Square Feet):BTUTonnage600 sq ft12,000 BTU1 Ton900 sq ft18,000 BTU1.5 Tons1,200 sq ft24,000 BTU2 Tons1,500 sq ft30,000 BTU2.5 Tons

What does 3.5 ton AC unit mean?

So, when we talk about an air conditioner unit rated at 1 ton or 2 or 3 ton, it just means the required amount of energy in BTU to provide that amount of cooling is 12,000 times the rated tonnage. For example, a 3 ton ac unit has 36,000 BTU/hr, a 5 ton ac unit has 60,000 BTU/hr.

How many sq ft will a 2.5 ton AC cool?

For example, a 30,000 BTU, 2.5-ton air conditioner is made to effectively cool a home between 1,200 and 1,500 square feet. A slightly larger 3,600, 3-ton unit, is designed for homes that are 1,500 to 1,800 square feet.

How much does a 3.5 ton AC unit cost?

Central Air Conditioner SizeAC Unit BTUAC Unit Only2.5 Tons30000 BTU$2,8953 Tons36000 BTU$2,9203.5 Tons42000 BTU$3,5504 Tons48000 BTU$3,650

How many tons AC do I need for 1000 square feet?

Square FootageBTUs per hourAC Unit Tonnage450 to 55012,0001 Ton550 to 70014,0001.5 Tons700 to 1,00018,0001.5 Tons1,000 to 1,20021,0002 Tons

What SEER rating should I buy?

There’s no magic SEER number. Anything over 13 is great. Because if you have an old 8 SEER system and replace it with a 16 SEER unit, you could significantly reduce the cost of cooling your home. Don’t forget to look at tax credits and manufacturer’s rebates that can bring the down the cost of a high SEER system.

How is HVAC capacity calculated?

The approximate amount of energy used to cool a square foot of your home is roughly 25 BTUs, so multiply the number of square feet in your home by 25 to get the base BTU measurement. Third, account for high ceilings: If your home’s ceiling is over 8 feet, multiply the base BTU amount by 1.25, or 25%.

How do you calculate cooling load?

1. Determine the dimensions of the room or home that needs cooling. For a room, you can do this with a measuring tape. …
2. For a room, multiply its length by its width to get the square footage.
3. Multiply the square footage by 20. This is the measure of the BTU cooling load of the space.

Is it better to oversize or undersize AC?

Construction Advice: When sizing a cooling system for a home, keep in mind that it’s better to undersize than to oversize. A smaller system may run a bit more often, but it will cost less to operate. A larger system will cost more to operate, in addition to being inefficient, which will cost more money in the long run.

Is a 3 ton air conditioner enough?

Pro Tip: as a rule of thumb, the maximum AC unit size you need to install should not be more than 15% more than the BTU’s you need to cool your house. This means that if your house requires a 24,000 BTU unit (2 tons), you should not install one that is larger than 30,000 BTU’s (3 tons) to maintain energy efficiency.

How much is a 3 ton air conditioner?

Central AC Unit SizeAC & CoilAC & Coil Installed Cost2.5 Tons, 30,000 btu$1,525$2,6953 Tons, 36,000 btu$1,650$2,9903.5 Tons, 42,000 btu$1,780$3,2504 Tons, 48,000 btu$1,860$3,350

Is 2.5 ton AC big enough?

According to this common but somewhat inaccurate method, you need 1 ton of air cooling capacity for every so many square feet of living space. While there’s some dispute over the exact amount, an often-used amount is 600 square feet. A 2.5-ton unit, then, theoretically would fit a 1,500-square-foot home.

What size AC unit do I need for 1600 square feet?

Assuming the minimum cooling capacity of 400 square feet per ton for your HVAC unit, a 1600 square foot home will require 4.0 tons of air conditioning to cool. Your HVAC unit will need to remove about 4.0 x 12,000 BTUs, or 48,000 BTUs, per hour to keep your home cool.

How many tons is 1700 square feet?

SQFTTon750 to 1,00021,050 to 1,4002.51,450 to 1,70031,750 to 1,9003.5

Which AC is suitable for 12x12 room?

According to Energy Star, a 12×12′ or 144 sqft room requires 5,000 BTU of cooling capacity when occupied by two persons. If the room is heavily shaded, it only requires 4,500 BTU. If the room is very sunny, it requires 5,500 BTU. For each additional person, you need to add 600 BTU.

How do I convert square feet to tons?

1. Multiply the length of the area by the width of the area = Square Feet.
2. Multiply Square Feet by the Depth* = Cubic Feet.
3. Divide Cubic Feet by 27 = Cubic Yards.
4. Multiply Cubic Yards by 1.5 = Tons Needed.

Does a 3 ton AC unit weigh 3 tons?

Air conditioning and heating capacities are generally measured in British Thermal Units (Btu) per hour. … This is equivalent to 12,000 Btu/hr. So, a 3-ton AC for instance, does not actually weigh 3 tons. It means that it has a nominal capacity of 36,000 Btu/hr.

What happens if AC unit is too small?

What Happens When Your AC is Too Small. If your air conditioning system is too small for the space that it is installed in, then it won’t have an efficient enough output. This forces the system to operate far longer than it is designed to, to try to keep your home cool.

What size AC unit do I need for a 1300 sq ft house?

When looking for the quick answer to how much air-conditioning power you’ll need to adequately cool a 1,300-square-foot space, the answer is 23,000 BTUs per hour of air conditioning power. This is the base capacity needed for a 1,200- to 1,400-square-foot house.