Does a Larger A/C Unit Mean More Cooling? The Answer May Surprise You
A/C units come in various sizes to cool different sized houses. So does a bigger unit mean more cooling power?
The short answer is no - a bigger HVAC system doesn’t mean better cooling.
The standard size for a residential a/c unit ranges from 1 to 5 tons.
So a large house might have a 5 ton unit, while a small one may only need a 2 ton.
Sounds simple enough, right? Not quite…it’s not just the size of the structure that determines the tonnage needed. Keep reading to learn more.
Central home a/c units range from 1 to 5 tons, including half sizes.
The Bigger, the Better? A/C Unit Sizes Explained
The old-school method for determining equipment sizes was by using square footage. This was when building materials didn’t have as much variance.
Today, however, building codes have changed and more energy-efficient options are available when constructing homes.
EXAMPLE: A 1000 sq. ft. home built in the 1970s. This home has fiberglass insulation and single-pane windows. Now compare that to a new 1000 sq. ft. home with foam insulation and double-pane windows.
The newer home is better insulated and able to keep conditioned air inside longer, therefore needs a smaller sized unit. The older home is drafty and not as well insulated, so needs a larger-sized a/c unit to maintain a comfortable temp.
HVAC System Design: Then and Now
"How many BTU's of air conditioning do I need?", "What size A/C unit do I need?", and "How many tons of A/C do I need per square foot?" are questions we hear.
The best practice to accurately choose equipment size is to use a manual j heat load calculation.
This formula takes into account building materials, square footage, number of occupants, even how many bathrooms you have (when you take a shower, that creates heat and steam, which adds to the humidity of the home, then that air needs to be conditioned), and more.
A/C contractors today use an updated method using the square footage of living space combined with the building materials and information in the manual j to design an HVAC system that will adequately cool and heat your home.
Dragon A/C & Heating designs and installs HVAC systems according to international and local codes, using quality materials, with guaranteed work.
Get your free custom system install quote today!
