Is My House Too Small for Central AC?

Wondering if your house is too small for central AC? One thing many newbie HVAC installers do not realize is that the size of your air conditioner really matters. If a unit is too large for your space, then you could experience some mold growth in your unit. This is because the airflow is circulating more quickly than your unit can cool and dry the air — so too much moisture is being circulated. Your house is never too small for an AC unit. It’s all about the size unit you install. Read on to learn our top three reasons you need to determine the right size.

Measure For Precise Comfort

Measure the square footage of your home that you want to cool. You might have this recorded in paperwork if you’ve recently had your house appraised. You also can estimate by walking your floor and multiplying the length by the width.

How To Calculate Ideal AC Size

  • Multiply your total square footage by 25.
  • Take that number and divide it by 12,000, which is a number standing for British Thermal Units. (Background on this: Air conditioners are measured in the “tons” unit. A one-ton air conditioner can cool 12,000 BTUs.)
  • Now take your number and subtract 0.5.
  • So let’s say you have a 1,000-square-foot home: 1,000 X 25=25,000, 25,000/12,000=2.08, 2.08-.05=1.58.
  • So for a 1,000-square-foot home you need a 1.58-ton air conditioner.

Request a Manual-J Analysis

A professional HVAC tech can do this for you. In the industry the Manual-J analysis is an intensive survey of your AC system that calculates your home’s optimal heating and cooling. If you want more info on Manual J- Analysis and calculation, check out this source and Manual J Calculator

Weather Engineers Can Answer All Your Central AC Questions!

At Weather Engineers, we’ve been assisting Florida homeowners in Brevard County with their heating and cooling issues for many years. We’re experts in our field — and we’ll show you when we give your HVAC unit a routine checkup. We can determine if your HVAC unit is the proper size for your home and suggest solutions if it’s not. Contact us today!

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