Air conditioning is absolutely critical when you live in Jacksonville, FL. The average high temperature stays above 90 degrees for three months in a row, after all. Purchasing an AC that is too big or too small for your home will cause problems, though. If it’s too big, it’ll cause you to waste energy. If it’s too small, it won’t be able to cool your house off enough. Avoid both of these issues by using the following guide!
Choose the Appropriate Style
Before we get into the size of your AC, we must first discuss the different styles. There are three main styles to choose from:
- Split-system air conditioner – Has an indoor and outdoor unit working together to lower heat and humidity in your home.
- Ductless air conditioner – Has an outdoor unit and connects to one or more indoor units. These units can provide different climates to different rooms.
- Packaged air conditioner system – A single outdoor unit that is available in a single- or two-stage system. Utilizes your house’s ductwork to deliver cool air.
A split-system air conditioner is the most common type of HVAC unit. Each style has its own pros and cons, however.
Determine the SEER and BTUh Ratings
An air conditioner usually comes with two ratings: SEER and BTUh. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and BTUh means British Thermal Units per Hour. Between them, you can determine how efficient a unit is, along with its cooling capacity.
SEER
Using less energy translates into a higher SEER rating. In Florida, it’s necessary for your SEER to be no less than 15, and 15-16 are the standard. Choosing a SEER above 20 will make your AC highly efficient.
BTUh
BTUh is used to let you know how much heat your AC can remove within an hour. Each ton of heat is rated at 12,000 BTUh. These tons are rated in half steps, which means that if you have an 18,000 BTUh system, it’ll remove 1.5 tons of heat. The total BTUh can be 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5 or 5 tons.
Consider the Conditions in Your Jacksonville Home
The next thing you must do is consider any specific characteristics in your house that can affect your air conditioner. These might include:
- The total number of people in your home.
- The quality of your ductwork.
- The amount of direct sun exposure.
- The quality of your home’s insulation.
- Average temperatures in Jacksonville.
- How often do you use heat-generating appliances?
- Number and quality of exterior doors and windows.
- Anything that modifies your indoor temperature such as a sunroom.
- Home construction materials.
HVAC Size Chart and Square Footage
Now, you’re ready to get down to the nitty gritty! Take your home’s square footage and compare it to the chart listed below.
- Less than 600 sq ft – 1 ton
- 600-1,000 sq ft – 1.5 tons
- 1,000-1,500 sq ft – 2 tons
- 1,500-2,000 sq ft – 2.5 tons
- 2,000-2,500 sq ft – 3 tons
- 2,500-3,300 sq ft – 3.5 tons
This chart may seem deceptively easy, but it’s still vitally important to consider your home’s key characteristics to choose the right size. For many people, this is where they’ll get confused and could end up purchasing the wrong size, regardless of their square footage. To avoid doing this, have a professional HVAC installer come to your home to conduct an energy audit.
What is the Manual J Calculation?
Everything listed above can be used to come up with your home’s Manual J calculation. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) designed this technique to make it easier to pick out your correct AC size. Again, this is where an energy audit can come in handy. An HVAC expert can easily determine what size AC you’ll need, and they can also talk to you about your AC style choices.
Jacksonville’s Professional HVAC Team
Figuring out your AC size can be a time-consuming and frustrating process for non-professionals. Instead, schedule a home energy audit with the experts at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating. We’ll take everything into consideration and come up with the perfect size for your Jacksonville home! Other services we offer include thermostat installations, mini-split ductless systems, indoor air quality, and the repair and installation of heat pumps, furnaces, heaters, and air conditioners.
Are you in the market for a new AC for your home? Begin the process by contacting One Hour to schedule an energy audit. Our professional HVAC team will visit your Jacksonville home to ensure you purchase the size you need!