If you have never purchased an AC unit for your home and are wondering if there is any science to whether or not any size unit will work the best, the answer is yes. If you want to ensure that you will get the best air circulation and have air flow throughout your whole home, than you need to get the proper unit. In this article we will discuss how to choose the best AC unit for your home so you can relax in comfort no matter where you may be resting.
1.) Measure the rooms and then measure again
Even if you are buying a unit for the whole home, you still need to measure the square footage of your home from one end to the other along with the width. If you are unsure of how to get the square footage of your home; you need to multiply the length by the width to come up with the proper denomination.
For example: if you have a living room that measures 16 x 12 that would equal 192 square feet. Remember that if you are planning on heating more than one floor, each floor has to be entered into the calculations.
2.) Determine the size needed by determining the BTU usage
BTU is short for British Thermal Unit and is the basic measurement of thermal (heat) energy. One BTU is the amount of energy that is needed to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. You can find charts online that show you how many BTU’s you would need for whatever your square footage is. The standard is for a space that is 100-150 square feet you would need 5,000 BTU’s and for 150-250 you would need 6,000 and the numbers change as needed the bigger the space. If you do find that you will need more than 32,000 BTU’s though, a central air system would be what you really should consider investing in as most standalone AC units do not have the capacity for that amount. Also, if you are trying to cool more than one floor, a central AC unit will allow you to save on buying two separate units to install for each level.
3.) Remember to calculate the extras
If you are looking to cool a room that is always sunny and hotter than the rest of the home, you will need to calculate an additional 10 percent BTU’s to your calculations or invest in shades or heavier blinds to help block out some of that extra heat. Also, if you have a large family and will have more than 2 people in the room at one time, you should add an extra 600 BTU’s to your calculations as well. And finally, if you plan to put an AC unit in your kitchen, you will need to add 4,000 BTU’s to the total to compensate for all of the heat that will be generated from using your stove and other cooking appliances.
When all of the calculations and considerations have been worked out, you may find that investing in a central AC unit is your best choice to go with for ensuring your whole home stay cool and comfortable for everyone. Talk to your friends or go online and read some recommendations for various units before making your final decision. Your heating company may even be able to get you a deal if you ask.
