When it comes to air conditioning, it’s a good idea to consult with an HVAC professional who can steer you to a system that can keep your home cool and comfortable no matter how hot it is outside. You need an air conditioner that can keep up with the load that summer places on it.

Figure Out the BTU Capacity

BTU stands for British thermal unit. It’s the amount of energy you’ll need to raise the temperature of a pound of water by 1°F. The air conditioning in a home that needs cooling on a hot day uses a lot of energy. Indeed, the amount of BTUs is measured in tons, and HVAC pros figure that your home needs a ton of BTUs for every 600 to 1,000 square feet of your home. But this is a very rough estimation and shouldn’t be the sole basis for deciding on the best AC system for you.

Manual J Load

Aside from your home’s square footage and insulation, you need to consider the material the house is made of, how many people live there, the height of the ceilings, and the number of windows and doors as well as the climate. How much energy your appliances use and whether the house is near mature trees that provide shade are other factors.

An HVAC technician uses all these factors to do a Manual J load or HVAC load calculation. This calculation will tell you, with great precision, how much cooling your home needs to stay comfortable during the summer. It has the additional advantage of telling you how much heating you’ll need in the winter. Knowing the HVAC load calculation saves you from installing a system that’s too small for your needs or so powerful that it short cycles and wastes money. Another reason to have the manual J load calculation is that your municipality’s building codes very likely require it.

Types of Air Conditioners

There are several types of air conditioners, and one is just the thing to keep you cool in summer. One of the best choices to keep your entire home cool is a central air conditioner, which uses ductwork that communicates with several rooms of your home. Another system for effective cooling is a ductless mini-split system that can connect as many as eight indoor air handlers to one outside condenser. You can control the handler for each room individually, so you don’t waste energy cooling rooms that are unoccupied.

If you live in San Jose, CA or a surrounding area and need AC replacement services, make your first call to Sandium Heating & Air.