Selecting an air conditioner with the proper size allows you to stay cool and energy-efficient, as well as easier on your wallet. If you have a home that is approximately 1500 square feet, it can be helpful to understand what goes into deciding how big an AC should be so that you are not stuck with unnecessary headaches and bills.
The Rule of Thumb: BTUs Per Square Foot
ACs are normally rated according to the number of British Thermal Units (BTUs) they use when cooling. As a general rule, you need around 20 BTUs per square foot of living space. Which for an average size home of 1,500-yards looks something like this:
1,500 sq. ft. × 20 BTUs = 30,000 BTUs
This only gives a rough base. There are many things that can affect the true cooling requirements of your home.
Avoid Thinking About Gross Square Feet
Climate Zone
How much you need to cool depends on where you live. Depending on how hot the climate you live in is, you would need to have a bigger system, but also if you’re in a cooler climate than less cooling capacity will do. For instance, it would have less capacity in an Ontario home that never hits those scalding summer temps that a Texas dwelling experiences.
Home Insulation
Homes with good insulation retain their cooler air, which in turn uses less energy to keep comfortable. On the flip side, older homes or those with less insulation may require a heftier system to overcome heat gain.
Ceiling Height
Standard calculations use a ceiling height of 8 Ft. If your home has vaulted or higher ceilings, you will need additional BTUs to cool the extra air space.
Windows and Sun Exposure
If you have big windows or ones that face directly toward the sun, then the cooling load can go up. This can also be avoided by installing energy-efficient windows or putting on blinds.
Number of Occupants
A home with more than four people will probably need a marginally larger unit, as each person adds heat to the same living area.
Appliances and Electronics
Heat is another manner in which electronics and home equipment experience. In case you have several devices running often, it could mean a higher demand for cooling at home.
Matching the Size to Your Needs
The sense of ton from air conditioners varies based on the application, but all are calculated in tons. Tonnage — One ton of Cooling = 12,000 BTUs So, with the 30,000 BTUs determined above, a home of up to about 1,500 square feet would likely require around a 2.5-ton unit (30,000 ÷ 12,000 = 2.5).
Consequences of Using Bigger Size or Smaller Size
Too Big Unit: Though it may appear an over small unit would chill added hastily, more often than not it results in romp biking. This is causing the AC to cycle on and off more than normal, resulting in inefficient cooling, higher energy bills, and too much strain on the system.
An under-supplied system will continually run trying to stabilize the setting temperature, racking up energy costs while failing to supply comfortable air.
Professional Evaluation Is Important
Although these guidelines are a decent reference point, getting the exact size for your air conditioner comes down to having an expert perform a Manual J Load Calculation. The calculation considers all of your homes unique features to ensure that the system that is selected will be appropriately sized for optimum performance.
Conclusion
A home that is 1,500 square feet will generally require a 2.5-ton air conditioner, but your size may differ based on climate, insulation and ceiling height. The right system can help keep your home comfortable while keeping energy bills manageable. If you’re not sure, check with an HVAC professional that you trust to help steer you in the right direction.
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