Central Air Conditioners can seem overwhelming—when feeling confused just remember that a central air condition is,just that, an air conditioner!
It conditions the air that is already in your home by taking it out and moving it back into your home. Not only does the air conditioner cool your home, it also cleans your home — this is why you’ll typically have a filter. Filters catch pesky things like dust and allergens, even mold! The unit also helps to take water out of the air and use it to cool the air conditioning unit by extracting water through a hose at the unit. Sometimes the first sign your AC unit isn’t functioning properly is a ton of humidity in the air.
This is the best time to schedule a maintenance call with Easy AC!
How Tampa Air Conditioners Work
Each air conditioner has a compressor that compresses Freon gas, a refrigerant that is naturally cold. The gas runs through the coils at a high pressure and it becomes extremely hot. While running through the coils, the gas is able to lose heat — it then become a liquid. The liquid (still Freon) passes through an expansion valve where it now becomes cold and maintains a low pressure. The cold Freon now passes through a similar-looking set of coils and is able to cool the air inside your home.
What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need for My House?
If you’re looking to save a little bit of money, you’re easily able to figure out what size air conditioner you’ll need for your home with some simple math. If you’re not interested in math at least you’re interested in being cool — so you’re willing to figure it out!
Quite Odd! Measure the Floor?
Yes, you need to measure the floor of each room you wish to cool. Remember that cool air sink sand hot air rises. Don’t worry about height, but multiply the width by the length and add them together. This equation will give you your square footage multiply this by 337 because there are 337 BTUs per square foot. Make sure you remember this number. Next, you’ll be measuring each and every window on the south side of your home figuring the square footage of each (width x height). Take that square footage and multiply it by 871 BTUs. Make sure you do the same for the north side windows and multiply them by 166. Add the two figures together and remember this number.
People Matter?
Yes! People matter,people not only take up space but they also take up cooled air. Get a count of how many people who will be living in the area you would like to cool within your home. Each person generates their very own amount of BTUs totaling to around400 each. Multiply the number of people by 400. Remember this number.
Lights Generate Heat. . .
Next you’ll be writing down the number of watts per light in your household and multiply that by 4.25 BTUs. If you have an 80 watt bulb it won’t generate the same amount as a 100 watt bulb. For instance, a 100 watt bulb generates 425 BTUs. If you have a ton of those, you’re in for a ton of energy being given off (and a bit of heat!) Now, back to your math — after you’ve completed each lights equation add the amounts together and remember this number.
And now for the next part of your house tour. . .
Do you have appliances? Of course you do. If not, you’re in for some luck you’re probably going to need a smaller unit than most of us! If you have appliances that will be running in the cooled area check and see what the maximum wattage for the appliance is and multiply it by 3.15. You can find the wattage typically on the interior doors, or the backs of the appliance. If you still cannot find it,look in the manual and if you exhaust every option call the manufacturer or look online. You’re probably thinking “why would I calculate the maximum?”You’ll want to calculate this because you definitely do not want an AC unit that can handle less than you need. Unfortunately they don’t work like that.Remember the number you’ve calculated for the appliance BTUs.
Almost There!
Take all of the numbers you remembered and add them together. Simple, right? This is your total BTUs — this is how many BTUs you needto have your air conditioner able to handle and this will help you shop aroundfor an air conditioner big enough for your home!
Here at Easy AC we offer units for all types of home with varrying seer ratings for any amount of BTU's. We also offer convenient finacing options for new units. Contact us today for more information or call 813.COLD.AIR