How many tons is my air conditioner? (2023)

How many tons is my air conditioner?

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.

How many square feet will a 3-ton AC cool?

Is a 3-ton air conditioner enough for my house? Apart from the capacity of the air conditioner, you also need to account for things like your climate, house size, and existing insulation. In general, a 3-ton air conditioner will work well in an area of around 1,200 square feet.

How do I find out how many BTUs your air conditioner is?

The first place to look is on the unit itself. Usually, the BTU rating is displayed on one side of a window unit with the model number and other essential information, like serial numbers and safety warnings. On other unit types, you should still be able to find it without too much trouble.

How many tons is the average home AC unit?

Tonnage ratings are typically expressed in increments of . 5 tons, so residential air conditioners are usually rated as 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5 or 5 ton units.

Is a 3-ton AC too big for a 1200 sq ft house?

If you have a 1,200-square-foot home, you'd need a two-ton unit. A 2,400-square-foot home would need a four-ton unit. Again, there are 2.5-ton and 3.5-ton units in case your square footage doesn't work out perfectly for a two- or three-ton unit, for instance.

How many square feet will a 5 ton AC unit cool?

How many square feet will a 2.5 ton AC unit cool?

1,201 to 1,500 square feet homes should use 2.5 tons. If your home size is higher than the number above but is less not more than 1,800 square feet, you can go for a three-ton A/C.

How do I tell how many BTUs my model number is?

Find the model number. Within this string of letters and numerals, you should find an even, two-digit number. The possibilities on residential units range from 18 to 60. Divide the number by 12 (which represents 12,000 Btu/hr, or one ton of cooling capacity) to get your AC unit's tonnage.

What size AC unit do I need for a 2400 sq ft house?

How large a room will a 12000 BTU air conditioner cool?

450 – 550 sq. feet: 12,000 BTUs.

How big of a room can 12000 BTU cool?

In our experience, a 12,000 BTU portable can work well in a bedroom up to about 200 square feet, and a 14,000 BTU unit will make some difference up to 400 square feet if you can tolerate the noise.

How many ton AC unit per square foot?

How many tons of AC do I need for 1800 sq ft house?

Here's some math: You need around 20 BTUs per square foot, which is equivalent to 0.0016 tons. For example, a 600-square-foot space requires a 12,000 BTU or 1-ton unit. By those calculations, an average 1,800-square-foot house would need a 3-ton central air conditioning unit.

How do I calculate the tonnage of my house AC?

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.

Is 3 ton AC too big?

While a local HVAC professional can help you with this, the general rule of thumb is that one ton of AC capacity will cool approximately 500 square feet. So if your home is 1,500 square feet, a two to three-ton unit would be best.

Is it better to undersize or oversize AC?

While an AC's capacity typically matches its energy usage, an undersized air conditioner will use more power simply because it is likely to run continuously, barely stopping for breath.

What happens if AC unit is oversized?

An oversized conditioner will be overly efficient in that it will reach the desired room temperatures too fast, which results in shortened cooling cycles. The stop-start operation caused by these short cycles can put increased strain on the air conditioner, much like what happens when it is undersized.

What happens if AC is too big?

Air conditioners that are too big consume more energy, endure more wear and tear, and simply don't work as well or as long as an appropriately sized unit. This can cause higher utility bills, more repairs, and discomfort in your home.

Does a higher SEER cool better?

Most industry experts compare a SEER rating to a car's fuel efficiency. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the cooling system should be.

What is a good SEER rating?

A good SEER rating is typically 14 or higher.

The average efficiency rating for a central air conditioner in operation today is 16 but high energy-efficient models can have ratings as high as 23.

How many square feet does a 3.5 ton AC unit cover?

3.5 tons: 1801-2100 sq. ft. 4 tons: 2101-2400 sq. ft.

How do I know if my AC unit is big enough?

Use these guidelines to find the appropriate BTU/hour rating. You need approximately 6,000 BTUs to cool an area under 300 square feet, 10,000 BTUs for 301 to 549 sqft., 16,000 BTUs for 550 to 999 sqft., 22,000 BTUs for 1,000 to 1,199 sqft., 30,000 BTUs for 1,500 to 1,999 sqft.

Can 2 ton AC cool two rooms?

To avoid calculations, the rule of thumb says a 1 ton AC covers up to 100 square feet, 1.5-ton covers around 180 square feet and a 2 ton AC can cool up to 240 square feet of space.

What is the difference between a 2 ton and 3 ton air conditioner?

HVAC experts eventually divided that number by 24 hours and came up with 12,000 BTU/1-ton AC capacity. Using that measurement, a two-ton AC unit will remove 24,000 BTUs, while a three-ton AC unit will remove 36,000 BTUs. Therefore, the more tonnage the AC unit is rated for, the more air it can cool down.

What size air conditioner do I need for 1500 square feet?

What size air conditioner do I need for a 1,500 square foot house? A 2.5 ton air conditioner is best because about 30,000 BTU is needed for a house that's 1,500 square feet.

What size air conditioner for 5000 square feet?

If you have a 5,000-square-foot space, divide that number by 500 to get 10. 10 times 12,000 is 120,000 Btu. If four people work there, add 1,520 (380 Btu x 4). If the space has three windows, add 3,000 (1,000 Btu x 3).

Is it better to have one big AC or two small ones?

And if you want to cool a large, open L- or T-shaped space, you're better off with two smaller units rather than one large one. “The goal is to keep the cold air from pooling on the floor,” explains Hank Rutkowski, director of technical affairs for the Washington, D.C.-based Air Conditioning Contractors of America.

Will a bigger AC unit cool my house faster?

An “oversized” air conditioner will cool your house quicker, but it will use more electricity and will not remove humidity adequately. Contrary to popular belief – and intuition – long AC system run cycles are far more desirable and energy efficient than short-run cycles.

Can an AC unit be too big for a house?

An oversized HVAC unit can make your home's inside temperature uncomfortable. An HVAC system with excess capacity can heat or cool your home faster, but that speed often results in a couple of other issues. First, your home won't benefit from gradual, even heating and cooling.

What happens if you use 1 ton AC in a big room?

However, make sure that you only use the 1 ton capacity AC if the room stands at no more than 200 square metres. If it is more, then you will eventually end up using more electricity for slower cooling time.

How much does it cost to run a 12000 BTU air conditioner all day?

How much does it cost to run a 12,000 BTU air conditioner 24/7? Assuming the air conditioner has an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of 10, the daily consumption is 28.8 kWh. With an average electricity cost of $0.15 per kWh, the daily cost is $4.32. The monthly cost (30 days) would be approximately $112.20.

Does higher BTU use more electricity?

More BTUs produced per hour will generally cost more in the terms of electricity usage compared to a device with lower BTU output.

How big of a room can a 24000 BTU AC cool?

How many square feet will a 18000 BTU air conditioner cool?

Is 12000 BTU AC good for living room?

As a guide, consider 5,000-BTU models for rooms 150 square feet or smaller, 8,000 BTUs for medium-size rooms (340 square feet), and 12,000 to 14,000-BTU models for rooms with square footage from 550 to 800. Having the correct power is imperative.

How many square feet is a 20 ton AC unit?

A 20 ton portable cooling unit can cool typically up to 8,000 square feet more or less, depending on lights, occupants, ambient temperatures and envelope construction.

What size air conditioner for 1900 square feet?

How much does a 3 ton package unit cost?

The cost of a 3-ton Carrier AC unit averages $4,000 to $7,700 for the unit, depending on the efficiency and model. Installed, this has an average cost of $5,200 to $9,700.

How many tons of AC do I need for a 2000 square foot house?

AC Unit Size

The typical 2,000-square-foot home will need a central AC unit that is around 3 tons or 36,000 BTU. The larger an AC system is, the more it will cost.

How many square feet will a 2 ton AC cover?

A 2-ton split AC is best suited for larger rooms, measuring up to 240 sq. ft of space.

What size air conditioner for 1700 square feet?

How many sq ft will a 3 ton AC cool?

Is a 3-ton air conditioner enough for my house? Apart from the capacity of the air conditioner, you also need to account for things like your climate, house size, and existing insulation. In general, a 3-ton air conditioner will work well in an area of around 1,200 square feet.

What is the thumb rule on AC tonnage calculator?

To calculate the AC tonnage required, you can follow the '20 BTU per 1 sq ft (8 ft ceiling)' rule of thumb. So 4700 sq ft * 20 BTU = 235.000 BTU or about 20 tons; but that's if you would have 8 ft ceilings. You have a 20 ft ceiling; you need to add an additional 150% to that calculation.

How long should a 3 ton AC unit last?

While every unit is different, and every homeowner has a different understanding of when their central air conditioner is broken beyond repair, it's fair to say that, with proper maintenance and care, you can expect a good 15 to 20 years of cooling from a new high efficiency air conditioning system.

How long does a 3 ton AC unit last?

Modern air conditioners can last between 15-20 years, and older air conditioners last around 10-12 years. The health and efficiency of your A/C depends on a number of factors, including whether or not you properly maintained the unit throughout its lifetime.

Is 3-ton AC big enough for a 2000 sq ft house?

Will a 3-ton AC cool a 2000 square foot house?

AC Unit Size

The typical 2,000-square-foot home will need a central AC unit that is around 3 tons or 36,000 BTU. The larger an AC system is, the more it will cost. However, many factors affect unit sizing.

Is 3-ton AC good for 1500 sq ft house?

1,201 to 1,500 square feet homes should use 2.5 tons. If your home size is higher than the number above but is less not more than 1,800 square feet, you can go for a three-ton A/C. Choose a unit that is 3.5 tons if your home measures more than 1,800 but not more than 2,100 square feet.

How many sq ft will a 2 ton AC unit cool?

Can you replace just the outside AC unit?

If your AC is newer, you may be able to replace just the outdoor unit. In many cases, this could lead to decreased energy efficiency or early AC failure. Installing a new AC costs between $3,800 to $7,500. Replacing just the outdoor unit can sometimes void the warranty.

What if my AC is too big for my house?

Oversized air conditioners usually short-cycle, meaning they power up and down throughout the day many more times than units that cycle properly. This needlessly uses up energy, resulting in high energy bills for you. Short AC lifespan – An oversized air conditioner is an overworked air conditioner.

What size AC do I need for 3000 sq ft?

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.

What size air conditioner for 1800 square feet?

Here's some math: You need around 20 BTUs per square foot, which is equivalent to 0.0016 tons. For example, a 600-square-foot space requires a 12,000 BTU or 1-ton unit. By those calculations, an average 1,800-square-foot house would need a 3-ton central air conditioning unit.

What SEER rating do I need?

Since January 2006, all residential air conditioners sold in the United States must have a SEER of at least 13. ENERGY STAR qualified central air conditioners must have a SEER of at least 14. By upgrading from SEER 9 to SEER 14, you can reduce your energy consumption by more than 35%.

What size air conditioner do I need for 1500 sq ft house?

What size air conditioner do I need for a 1,500 square foot house? A 2.5 ton air conditioner is best because about 30,000 BTU is needed for a house that's 1,500 square feet.

What size AC unit do I need for a 1400 sq ft house?

Can 1 ton AC cool two rooms?

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.

What is the thumb rule for AC tonnage calculation?

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.