1. What is BTU in Air Conditioning?

BTU/h (British Thermal Units per hour) is a measurement of heat energy that indicates how much heat an air conditioner can remove from a room per hour. Proper BTU sizing is crucial for efficient cooling and energy savings.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard formula:

Where:

• \( Area \) — Room area in square feet
• \( 20 \) — Standard multiplier for moderate climates (adjust up to 25 for hot climates)

Explanation: This formula provides a basic estimate of the cooling capacity needed for a room based on its size.

3. Importance of Proper Sizing

Details: An undersized unit won't cool effectively, while an oversized unit will cycle on/off too frequently, wasting energy and not properly dehumidifying the air.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Measure your room's length and width to calculate area (length × width). For irregular rooms, break them into rectangular sections and add the areas together.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if my room has high ceilings?
A: For ceilings over 8 feet, add 10% to the calculated BTU for each additional foot.

Q2: How does sunlight affect the calculation?
A: For very sunny rooms, increase BTU by 10%. For heavily shaded rooms, decrease by 10%.

Q3: What about kitchen areas?
A: Add 4,000 BTU to the calculated value for kitchen spaces due to heat from appliances.

Q4: How many people should I account for?
A: Add 600 BTU for each person regularly in the room beyond two people.

Q5: What's the difference between BTU and tonnage?
A: 12,000 BTU/h equals 1 ton of cooling capacity. Central AC units are often rated in tons.