The size of the A/C unit you need for your home depends on a number of things, including the square footage, the height of the ceilings, the amount of insulation you have, and the home’s layout. When you need air conditioning replacement in Sarasota, FL, call Bullseye Home Services.

Getting the Basics

Central air conditioning units are sized by tonnage. This has nothing to do with weight, it’s actually how well can your A/C cool. A one-ton A/C unit, for example, can cool 12,000 BTU in one hour.

A BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is the amount of energy needed to change the temperature of one pound of water by 1°F. That one-ton A/C unit can cool 12,000 pounds of water by 1°F every hour. Air conditioners used in residential areas weigh between 1.5 tons to 5.0 tons.

Size Matters

You may think installing a 5.0-ton unit in your home is the easy way to go for fast and easy cooling year-round. But, when it comes to A/C tonnage, size matters a great deal. An oversized A/C unit kicks on and off constantly, using more energy, meanwhile an under-sized A/C unit runs all the time, driving up energy cost.

Both cause excess wear and tear, which means higher costs for air conditioning repair in Sarasota, FL. A properly-sized A/C unit will run for a complete cooling cycle, then shut off to save energy.

What Is the Right Size for Your A/C Unit?

The old-school method of calculating unit size uses a simple formula:

Multiply the square footage of the house by 30.

Divide that total by 12,000.

Subtract 1.0.

So, for a 2000 square-foot home, the calculations would go like this. Multiply 2000 by 30, which equals 60,000. Then, divide 60,000 by 12,000, which equals 5. Subtract 1 from 5, which equals 4.

The old-school calculation determines that a 2000 square-foot home would need a 4.0 ton A/C unit. However, the problem with the old-school method is that it doesn’t account for the type of climate your home is in or whether you have high ceilings, poor insulation, or an unusual layout.

The Best Method for Sizing Your Home’s A/C

The best option for sizing a new air conditioning unit is to call on the experts in air conditioning services in Sarasota, FL, Bullseye Home Services. As HVAC experts, we use an automated program that factors in several things before determining the size of your new A/C unit. A properly sized unit runs more efficiently and would need less maintenance.

How hot does it get in summer? How humid does it get? How much shade does your home get? How much insulation does your home have? What color is your roof? Do you have a slab foundation, crawlspace, or basement? All these factors would have to be considered when choosing a new air conditioning unit. To keep your unit properly running, it’s best to schedule regular air conditioning maintenance in Sarasota, FL.

When you need air conditioning installation in Sarasota, FL, schedule an appointment online with Bullseye Home Services. We install four different types of units and can help you choose the best one for your home.