Is Your Heating & Cooling System the Right Size?

HVAC Equipment Is Not One Size Fits All

When it comes to heating and cooling your home, it’s very important you get the correct size. The size of your equipment actually plays a huge role. If you buy an HVAC system that’s too big, you’ll end up wasting money and energy. And if it’s too small, you won’t get enough cool or warm air flowing through your home.

When we refer to size, we’re not talking about the physical size of your unit — we’re talking number of BTUs. BTU is a unit of measurement for energy. One BTU is an amount of energy that will raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. You can usually get a rough estimate of the BTUs needed by looking at the square footage of your home. Sizing an HVAC system by square footage is only an estimate; building materials and location will also affect demand.

Room BTU Chart

  • 150 sq. ft. – 5,000 BTUs
  • 250 sq. ft. – 6,000 BTUs
  • 300 sq. ft. – 7,000 BTUs
  • 350 sq. ft. – 8,000 BTUs
  • 400 sq. ft. – 9,000 BTUs
  • 450 sq. ft. – 10,000 BTUs
  • 500 sq. ft. – 11,000 BTUs
  • 550 sq. ft. – 12,000 BTUs
  • 600 sq. ft. – 13,000 BTUs
  • 650 sq. ft. – 14,000 BTUs
  • 700 sq. ft. – 15,000 BTUs
  • 750 sq. ft. – 16,000 BTUs
  • 800 sq. ft. – 17,000 BTUs
  • 850 sq. ft. – 18,000 BTUs
  • 900 sq. ft. – 19,000 BTUs
  • 950 sq. ft. – 20,000 BTUs

12,000 BTUs is equal to 1 ton.

GEN3 Electric & HVAC can help you determine exactly which make, model, and size unit is best for you and your needs. Having a little extra power isn’t always bad, as it will ensure your system can handle the load on days with extremely high or low temperatures. However, having too much will cause your system to wear out faster. If you end up with a unit that’s too small, you may regret it on the hottest or coldest days of the year.

Beware of getting too large a unit, because it will heat or cool your home too quickly and then shut off. This frequent on-and-off cycle will cause uneven temperatures and higher energy bills. A good rule of thumb is that the maximum size unit you should buy is 15% over the BTUs you need for cooling and 40% over the BTUs needed for heating. The maximum for heat pumps is 25%, since a heat pump handles both heating and cooling.

Call GEN3 Electric & HVAC today to schedule an estimate for your new system, or get a second opinion you can trust!