What Are Air Conditioning BTU’s?
When it's time to select a new air conditioning system for your Radford, VA, home, you might feel overwhelmed with all the features and options. One concern is the system's capacity, which is measured in British thermal units (BTUs). Read on to learn about what a BTU is, what it means for your air conditioning system, and how to know the number of BTUs that your home needs for optimal comfort.
What BTUs Are
A BTU is a measure of how much energy it takes to heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit at sea level. When it comes to air conditioning, BTU measurements are a guide to how much cooling capacity the unit has. The BTUs refer to how much heat the unit can transfer out of your home. Both window air conditioners and central air conditioners have BTU ratings.
How Air Conditioner BTUs Affect Comfort
The more BTUs an air conditioner has, the more cooling capacity it delivers. If an air conditioner has insufficient BTUs for the square footage of the space you're trying to cool, it will cycle all the time. Your home won't reach the temperature setting on the thermostat, and humidity can build up. If it has too many BTUs, it will short cycle. This leads to a lot of temperature fluctuations and pockets of hot and cold air in your home.
How Many BTUs You Need
As a rule, your home needs 20 BTUs per one square foot of space. High ceilings or a lot of windows increase BTU needs. It's wise to have an HVAC technician do the load calculation for you.
New River Heating & Air is the trusted air conditioning installation company in Radford. Homeowners also rely on us for affordable heating and cooling installations, maintenance, and repair services. Our generators, duct cleaning, water heaters, and indoor air quality solutions keep your home safe, energy-efficient, and comfortable. We also offer residential new construction and commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services. To learn more about air conditioner BTUs, get in touch with us at New River Heating & Air today.