Air conditioners come in different shapes and sizes, but the units used in the industry don’t always help the average consumer understand. HVAC contractors measure an AC unit’s output in “tons.” Each ton produces 12,000 British Thermal Units, or BTUs, of cooling. It takes around 25 BTUs to cool a square foot of space, though this may vary depending on your climate. There are five “climate zones” in the United States — for brevity’s sake, let’s just consider northernmost Zone 5, where Wisconsin is located.

The Bigger the Home, the Bigger the AC Unit

A bigger home contains more air that needs to be cooled. That means that your AC unit will need to be able to put out more cold air to hold the same temperature. HVAC contractors advise that Wisconsin homes of the following sizes will need AC units of these tonnages:

• 700 – 1,100 square feet: 1.5 tons
• 1,101 – 1,400 square feet: 2 tons
• 1,401 – 1,650 square feet: 2.5 tons
• 1,651 – 2,100 square feet: 3 tons
• 2,101 – 2,300 square feet: 3.5 tons
• 2,301 – 2,700 square feet: 4 tons
• 2,701 – 3,300 square feet: 5 tons

HVAC contractors consider units over 5 tons to be light commercial HVAC units, which, due to size and transportation constraints, can rarely be installed for residential clients. If your home is beyond 3,300 square feet, you’ll need to install multiple units.

The Importance of Proper Sizing

Matching up your home’s size to that of the AC unit ensures comfortable living, no matter how hot it gets. Purchasing too big an AC unit results in uneven cooling. It will cool your house rapidly and then shut off, requiring the temperature to drop before turning back on. Too small of an AC unit will stay on all day, never quite able to cool your house sufficiently. As a result, it’ll continually suck up your energy. A properly-sized AC, on the other hand, will keep cooling even, remaining on for enough of the day to provide comfort, but not for so long that it sacrifices efficiency.

Get the expert take on your HVAC needs with Pointon Heating & Air Conditioning. As licensed distributors and installers of industry-leading LENNOX® products, these HVAC contractors offer free estimates on their trusted services. Visit their website today or call them at (608) 356-4177 for Baraboo or (608) 745-4616 for Portage to find out how to keep cool this summer.