Buying a new AC can feel like a weight lifted off your chest or your wallet, depending on how you want to look at it. When purchasing an AC, there is a lot to consider. While we always want to focus on energy efficiency for AC units, which is essential, we need to consider an AC's size. When it comes to your AC, you need to know the BTU rating to ensure that your AC is the right fit for your home!
What Does BTU Mean?
To put it simply, BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, which is the measurement for energy and what you may see when shopping around for a new AC. FOr your cooling appliances, a BTU will refer to the amount of energy needed to remove heat from the surrounding environment. Think of BTUs similar to how we use watts for electrical readings; it is just another measurement specifically for HVAC systems.
How Many BTUs Do I Need?
At the heart of every homeowner, AC search is knowing what the right amount of BTUs they need for the home is, and boy do we have an answer you will not like! It depends on your home; when it comes to cooling down your home many factors, with the most significant deciding factor being the size of your home.
While there are great calculators online to help you get an estimate for the BTUs you need for your AC unit, you need to consider your home, you need to take into consideration your home environment. While home square footage plays into BTU measurements, you also need to factor in the overall sun exposure your home gets as homes that face the sun will, shocker, get hotter. Additionally, even your area's climate plays into BTU estimates, which can be tricky to measure if you do not have much experience in these assessments.
We help our customers consider these factors and break down exactly the BTUs a homeowner needs by making detailed assessments that are custom to the home. One size does not fit all when it comes to AC units.
Finding The Right Fit
You want an AC with a proper BTU rating to avoid spending more money than you need to and have a home that is cooled down properly. Get an AC with too low of a BTU rating, and you will not have a cool house. You will get an AC working too hard to cool down too large of a space, reduce unit lifespan, and you will shell out more on utility bills. AN AC too large will lead to annoying humidity problems, which can bring their own expenses in the form of home damage.
At Valairco we know all there is to know about HVAC, and when it comes to ACs, we got you covered. So call (855) 661-3300, and we will get you set up with the best AC for your home!