Monday, January 11, 2010

What Size is Your Unit?

Size really matters…It is important to calculate a proper HVAC unit size to ensure ideal heating and cooling and to maintain low energy costs. An HVAC unit that is sized too small for the building will run almost constantly and may never get the building up to the desired temperature. An HVAC unit that is sized too large will short-cycle and use excessive energy. Short-cycle means the unit will frequently start and stop. This causes unnecessary wear and tear on the unit and may lead to a shorter life.


How to Calculate HVAC Unit Size
Step 1

Figure out the square footage of space that you need to heat and cool. Measure the room's length and width. Multiply these together to get the square footage.

Step 2

Continue measuring each room and add all the square footages together. As a general rule, you'll want one CFM (cubic feet per minute) per square foot. The exception to this is if you have an area with a lot of windows. You'll then want two CFM per square foot.


Step 3

Convert the CFMs into tons by dividing by 400. For example, say your total square footage is 2,000, and you determined you need 2,000 CFM. Take 2,000 and divide by 400. For this example you need a five-ton air-conditioning unit.


Step 4
Calculate the BTU (British Thermal Units) needed for your air handler. This is done by taking your CFM and dividing by 150 and then multiplying that number by 10,000. For instance, from the example in step 3, you had 2,000 CFM. Two thousand divided by 150 is 13 1/3. This number multiplied by 10,000 is 133,333 BTU. You would install a furnace close to that output of BTU.

Schwenn Mechanical has trained professionals that have this down to a science and can also take into account other factors like: how well the home Is insulated and sealed, how many windows are in the home, and much much more.

Schedule a free estimate today! Call 407-895-7550 or click here to contact us online!

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