When you’re in the market for a new HVAC system, it’s critical to know the right-size AC system or furnace for your Yuma home. Purchasing the wrong HVAC size will lead to higher operating and energy costs. A properly sized HVAC system will give you the best performance, energy efficiency, and longevity.
Determining the Best HVAC Size for Your Home
Knowing the BTUs (British Thermal Units) of heating and cooling your home’s square footage requires can help you estimate the right HVAC size you should choose. You’ll need to match your home’s square footage to the BTUs it needs. Here are the BTUs you would need depending on the total square footage of your house:
- 100 to 150 sq. ft. — 5,000 BTUs
- 150 to 250 sq. ft. — 6,000 BTUs
- 250 to 300 sq. ft. — 7,000 BTUs
- 300 to 350 sq. ft. — 8,000 BTUs
- 350 to 400 sq. ft. — 9,000 BTUs
- 400 to 450 sq. ft. — 10,000 BTUs
- 450 to 500 sq. ft. — 12,000 BTUs
- 500 to 700 sq. ft. — 14,000 BTUs
- 700 to 1,000 sq. ft. — 18,000 BTUs
- 1,000 to 1,200 sq. ft. — 21,000 BTUs
- 1,200 to 1,400 sq. ft. — 23,000 BTUs
- 1,400 to 1,500 sq. ft. — 24,000 BTUs
- 1,500 to 2,000 sq. ft. — 30,000 BTUs
- 2,000 to 2,500 sq. ft. — 34,000 BTUs
The data above can give you a good idea of the BTU size needed to cool or heat your whole house. However, establishing the right-size unit for your home requires considering more factors than just its square footage. As a result, the best way to know the exact BTUs of cooling and heating needed for your home is by requesting a Manual J calculation.
The Manual J sizing calculations that HVAC professionals perform consider square footage and other vital factors such as:
- Climate zone
- Ductwork quality
- Number of occupants
- Style and number of windows
- Amount of exposure to direct sunlight
- Quality of insulation
The Manual J method will consider more characteristics of your home and environment, allowing you to establish the HVAC size needed for your home accurately. If you need an HVAC professional to calculate and install the right-size HVAC unit in your Yuma area home, contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. We’ve served the HVAC needs of our satisfied Yuma-area clients since 1952.
