Properly Sized Room AC
 
Properly Sized Room AC
Many people buy an air conditioner that is too large, thinking it will provider better cooling. However, an oversized air conditioner is actually less effective - and wastes energy at the same time. Air conditioners remove both heat and humidity from the air. If the unit is too large, it will cool the room quickly, but only remove some of the humidity. This leaves the room with a damp, clammy feeling. A properly sized unit will remove humidity effectively as it cools.

To figure out which size unit is best for your cooling needs:1. Determine the square footage of the area to be cooled using the following formulas:

For square and rectangular rooms, multiply the length of the area by its width
For a triangular area, multiply the length of the area by the width and divide by 2

Most rooms can be further divided into these basic shapes to determine the square footage.

If the shape of your room is other than square or rectangular, ask your sales associate to help you determine the square footage.

2. Using the square footage and the chart below, determine the correct cooling capacity. Cooling capacity is measured in British thermal units (BTUs) per hour.

Area To Be Cooled (square feet)
Capacity Needed (BTUs per hour)

100 to 150
5,000

150 to 250
6,000

250 to 300
7,000

300 to 350
8,000

350 to 400
9,000

400 to 450
10,000

450 to 550
12,000

550 to 700
14,000

700 to 1,000
18,000

1,000 to 1,200
21,000

1,200 to 1,400
23,000

1,400 to 1,500
24,000

1,500 to 2,000
30,000

2,000 to 2,500
34,000

3. Make any adjustments for the following circumstances:

If the room is heavily shaded, reduce capacity by 10 percent.
If the room is very sunny, increase capacity by 10 percent.
If more than two people regularly occupy the room, add 600 BTUs for each additional person.
If the unit is used in a kitchen, increase capacity by 4,000 BTUs.
Consider where you install the unit. If you are mounting an air conditioner near the corner of a room, look for a unit that can send the airflow in the right direction.