What size air conditioner do I need for a house?

AIR CONDITIONER

Why HVAC Size Matters
Air Conditioner (AC) Too Small
Air Conditioner (AC) Too Large
Step 1: Find the Air Conditioner Type That Best Fits Your Home
Split-System Air Conditioner
Ductless Air Conditioner
Packaged Air Conditioner System
Step 2: Review Ratings for the HVAC Size You Need
What is a SEER Rating?
What is a BTUh Rating?
Step 3: Estimate the Right AC Size for Your House
Step 4: Request an Energy Audit and Manual J Calculation
Step 5: Match Your Square Footage to an HVAC Size Chart
Step 6: Best choice of AC Instalation company

Introduction

Investing in the right HVAC unit for your home is more than choosing a quality brand and warranty. One of the first questions you should ask an American Standard Customer Care dealer is, “What size HVAC do I need?”. Understanding how the size of an air conditioner (AC) impacts your home’s comfort reveals why, in the HVAC world, bigger isn’t always better.

Why HVAC Size Matters

It is important to choose the right size for air conditioner for home and office. When your system is too large or too small, you may battle an uncomfortable indoor climate and higher energy costs.

Air Conditioner (AC) Too Small

If you purchase an AC that’s too small for your home, it will run continuously, struggling to maintain a cool indoor

temperature. This can also lead to uneven cooling throughout your home.

Air Conditioner (AC) Too Large

There are three main types of air conditioners, all of which operate in a similar manner. Your home likely employs one of the following systems: ductless AC, packaged air conditioner, or split-system air conditioner.

• Split-System Air Conditioner
• Ductless Air Conditioner
• Packaged Air Conditioner System

Split-System Air Conditioner

split ac

The split-system air conditioner is the most traditional HVAC unit. It comprises an outdoor unit and an indoor unit that collaborate to cool and regulate humidity levels in your home. Various options are available with this type of AC unit. By teaming up with an American Standard Customer Care dealer, you can select a split-system AC based on your preferred energy efficiency, noise level, and budget.

Ductless Air Conditioner

The ductless air
conditioner features a single outdoor unit that connects to one or more indoor units. These indoor units are designed to cool individual rooms, making these systems ideal for homes requiring different climates in each space. You can adjust the temperature of each room independently since a separate unit is installed on the ceiling, wall, or floor of each room.. The unit will turn on, quickly lower the indoor temperature, and shut down. Repeating that cycle many times throughout the day causes advanced wear and tear on your AC.

Step 1: Discover the Ideal Air Conditioning System for Your Home

When it comes to air conditioning, there are three main types to consider, each functioning similarly to cool your home effectively. Your residence likely falls into one of these categories: ductless AC, packaged air conditioner, or split-system air conditioner.

Split-System Air Conditioner
The split-system air conditioner represents the traditional HVAC unit, consisting of both an outdoor and indoor unit collaborating to regulate your home's temperature and humidity levels. With numerous options available, partnering with an American Standard Customer Care dealer enables you to select a split-system AC tailored to your preferred energy efficiency, noise levels, and budget.

Ductless Air Conditioner

Ideal for homes requiring different climate zones in various spaces, the ductless air conditioner features an outdoor unit linked to one or multiple indoor units. Each indoor unit is dedicated to cooling a specific room, offering the flexibility to adjust temperatures independently.

Packaged Air Conditioner System

Comprising a single outdoor unit housing all essential mechanical components, the packaged air conditioner system utilizes your home's ductwork to distribute cool air efficiently. Depending on your energy efficiency requirements, you can opt for either single- or two-stage systems.

Step 2: Assess HVAC Size Ratings

Once you've identified the most suitable AC type for your home, delve into the ratings pertinent to your preferred style. Air conditioners typically receive ratings based on their energy efficiency and cooling capacity. Familiarize yourself with these metrics as you determine the appropriate size of AC unit for your needs. Energy efficiency is quantified by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), while cooling capacity is measured in British Thermal Units per Hour (BTUh) or tons.

What is a SEER Rating?

To calculate a SEER ratio, also known as a rating, the cooling output of a unit throughout an average cooling season is divided by the total energy consumed. A higher SEER ratio is achieved when less energy is utilized. It's important to note that the SEER ratio signifies the maximum efficiency of a unit. While the most prevalent SEER ratings typically range between 14 and 16, American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning® offers units with SEER ratings of up to 22. Higher SEER units often feature two-stage or variable cooling stages.

What exactly is a BTUh Rating?

The BTUh rating quantifies the amount of energy your air conditioner or HVAC system consumes to extract heat from your home within a single hour. This result is expressed in tons (or tonnage) or BTUh. A cooling capacity of one ton equals 12,000 BTUh. Residential air conditioners are typically categorized by tonnage ratings, which are available in increments of 0.5 tons, resulting in units of 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, or 5 tons. For instance, when determining the appropriate size of an air conditioner for a 2,000 square foot home, you would likely opt for a 3 or 3.5 ton unit, contingent on the climate of your locale.

Step 3: Estimating the Correct AC Size for Your Residence

The rating of your desired AC unit is merely one factor to contemplate when selecting the suitable HVAC size. To ensure optimal outcomes from your HVAC investment, it's advisable to seek the guidance of an American Standard Customer Care dealer. These independent dealers can assist in determining the ideal HVAC size for your residence based on factors beyond square footage. The following aspects should be taken into consideration to ascertain the appropriate AC size:

Ductwork quality
Home insulation quality
Degree of direct sunlight exposure
Number of occupants in the home
Usage of heat-producing appliances
Regional climate and typical temperatures
Quality and quantity of windows and external doors
Building materials used in home construction (e.g., brick, wood)
Features within the home that influence indoor temperature (e.g., fireplace, sunroom)

Step 4: Opt for an Energy Audit and Manual J Calculation

Considering a Manual J calculation conducted alongside an energy audit can provide invaluable insights. While many utility companies offer these audits and reports at no cost, if unavailable, you can engage an HVAC dealer or energy auditor for a comprehensive inspection. The Manual J calculation takes into account various home and environmental factors outlined earlier, delivering precise guidance on the ideal AC size for your residence.

Step 5: Align Square Footage with an HVAC Size Chart

While consulting a professionally trained American Standard Customer Care dealer remains the optimal method for determining the appropriate AC size for your home, referring to this data can serve as a preliminary guide based on your home's dimensions:

Home Square Footage Air Conditioner Size (Tons)
600-1,000 square feet 1.5 tons
1,000-1,500 square feet 2 tons
1,500-2,000 square feet 3 tons
2,000-2,500 square feet 4 tons
2,500-3,300 square feet 5 tons

Step 6: Select the Finest AC Installation Company

American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning® collaborates with esteemed independent dealers. Entrusting your HVAC requirements to an American Standard Customer Care dealer ensures that your home receives the same level of care as our own.