Hello there; chances are, if you’ve stumbled onto this article, you’ve probably either moved into a new home, are buying your first air conditioner, or both! Well, in any circumstance, I say congratulations! But of course, big steps must require proper planning and preparation. While we can’t take those steps for you, we sure can do our best to help. Here’s how you can select the AC best for your room size!
Before Taking Any Steps, Measure Your Room
It’s a rather basic step to take, but it’s one that many new customers will often forget. Remember to size out your room accurately before making any big decisions. Plus, conducting such measurements will also help out with interior decoration down the line. Remember, if you want the biggest bang for your buck, it helps tremendously to be accurate. No vendor or online source will be able to help an individual who can only approximate their room size with random hand gestures.
BTUs Are Always a Good Place to Start
BTUs, otherwise known as British Thermal Units, are often what someone refers to when talking about an air conditioner’s size. They determine how much an AC will cool up your surroundings for a certain amount of energy. While higher BTUs are good for obvious reasons, they consume more energy in the long run and cost more too. It’s best to find an ideal ratio between BTU and room size. Fortunately, we have an equation to help the process.
One simply has to calculate the area of their room in square feet and multiply it by 25 BT. This gives us an approximate value for the BTU needed. So, for example, if a room is 15 by 20 feet, its area would be 15 times 20, which is equal to 300ft2. Multiply that with 25, and we have 7,500 BTU. It’s honestly that easy and requires minimal math.
Bigger Is Not Always Better with ACs
We have this general idea that a larger version of anything is automatically a better one. But, much like iPhones, size doesn’t always correlate to efficiency or high BTUs in air conditioners. Some window units, for example, can consume tons of electricity but still not deliver on the necessary cooling. Empirical methods of deciding your AC are always best. Calculate your BTU, consult with others, and then make a decision.
How Much Room Does Your Room Offer?
BTUs may be a good starting point, but they’re often approximate values that don’t account for a lot of stuff. In order to stay reasonable, it’s best to first consider how much space you have for an AC. Sometimes, a split unit just isn’t that feasible and takes up much-needed wall space. Other times, a window unit just interferes with the room’s layout and clutters the place. Take into account your room’s bearings, and purchase accordingly!
A New Metric to Consider: Tonnes!
We’ve already discussed BTUs and their usage. However, now let’s talk about an AC’s ton. This, too, is a misleading number as it doesn’t refer to an AC’s weight, but instead is another metric for its cooling capacity.
Much like BTUs tonnes only define how much an air conditioner can cool a place down. These are interchangeable terms, and mostly boil down to where you’re shopping. It’s honestly best to go straight down the middle of the road when choosing an AC for its tonnage.
Numbers Matter, Especially When It Comes to People
An AC is at its most efficient when there aren’t a lot of people crowding a room. If a room such as a workspace is constantly harboring over five people, then it’s best to consider upping the air conditioner’s tonnage or BTU.
If you’re recently married (congratulations, by the way!), and are just two to a room, then you can even reduce the calculated BTU or tonnage for a room. It can be an experimental process, so remember to discuss options with your local vendor.
 Room Size Calculators Can Be Found Online!
One of the internet’s biggest advantages is having a never-ending lexicon of information completely at your disposal. For all the information that I provide on an estimated basis, someone has fully calculated and posted it online.
There are loads of charts and graphs which will provide you with the correct BTU/tonnage for your approximate room size. Of course, remember that no such information is truly objective, and thus all of these publications will have minor differences between them.
Purchasing for an Office? Consider Buying a Central AC
There’s a reason that many offices across the world have central cooling. Offices are constantly active for prolonged periods of time and have much larger quantities of people working in them. Buying a single AC, no matter how high the BTU, will be inefficient. As will buying a multitude of air conditioners. If you’re buying for an office space, especially those with multiple rooms, central cooling will save your long-term budget by an arm and a leg. Which is nearly how much they cost as well.
Finally – Remember to Always Consult with Others
Here’s the thing: buying an air conditioner is a very different process in different parts of the world. Some people measure in BTUs, some in tonnes. Certain areas relish in a lot of shade, while others reside in scorching deserts. It’s ultimately best to ask people in your surroundings about their experiences. Vendors, or better yet, friends and family who have already made such relevant purchases are always best to confer with first and foremost.
Conclusion: Happy Shopping!
On that note, I believe there are no more tips to my knowledge that can be communicated. Of course, as I’ve stressed multiple times, doing your own research is imperative to an outstanding outcome. I wish you the best of luck and hope that you now understand which air conditioner is best for your room size. Happy shopping, and may you encounter only the best of deals.
