Air Conditioning (BTU) Calculator
Determine the right size air conditioner for your room.
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Find the Right Cooling Power
Choosing the right size air conditioner is crucial for efficient cooling and energy savings. An undersized unit will run constantly without cooling the room, while an oversized unit will cool too quickly without removing humidity, leading to a clammy feeling. This calculator helps you determine the required cooling capacity in BTUs (British Thermal Units) for your room.
The Formula Explained
A common rule of thumb is to start with a base BTU calculation and adjust for various factors:
- Base BTUs:
Room Area (sq. ft.) * 20 - Adjustments:
- Ceiling Height: Increase BTUs by 10% for ceilings higher than 8 feet.
- Sunlight: Increase BTUs by 10% for a very sunny room, or decrease by 10% for a very shady room.
- Occupancy: Add about 600 BTUs for each person over two who will regularly occupy the room.
How to Use the Calculator
- Room Area (sq. ft.): Enter the length and width of your room to get the square footage.
- Ceiling Height: Enter the height of your ceiling.
- Sunlight Exposure: Select how much sun the room gets.
- Calculate: The tool will provide a recommended BTU rating for your air conditioner.
Real-World Example
A living room is 15 feet by 20 feet (300 sq. ft.) with an 8-foot ceiling and gets a normal amount of sun.
- Base BTUs:
300 * 20 = 6,000 BTUs. - Since the ceiling height and sun exposure are normal, no major adjustments are needed. A 6,000 BTU air conditioner would be a good choice for this room.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is a BTU? A British Thermal Unit (BTU) is a measure of heat energy. In the context of air conditioning, it measures how much heat an AC unit can remove from a room per hour.
- What about kitchens? If you are cooling a kitchen, it's recommended to add an additional 4,000 BTUs to account for the heat generated by appliances.
- Should I just buy the biggest unit I can afford? No. An oversized unit is inefficient. It will cycle on and off too frequently (short-cycling), which wastes energy and doesn't effectively dehumidify the air, leaving the room feeling cool but damp.