Many homes today are around 2000 sq ft. While houses with this measurement are not small, these are not that big either. This is why many homeowners have a hard time choosing the right air conditioner to use. If you happen to be one of them, what size ac unit for 2000 square feet should you use in the first place then?
Calculate the required AC capacity for every room
The very first step to determine the correct ac size for a 2000 sq ft house is to calculate the specific capacity required for the individual rooms. After that, you need to choose a suitable air conditioning unit depending on the required capacity. You can then decide on the type of ac that you want for the house.
As far as houses measuring 2000 sq ft are concerned, there are many other considerations than a mere BTU calculation formula alone.
How to calculate air conditioner size for a 2000 square foot house
You need to identify the rooms that need the ac and the floor area of each room. Take note that all rooms may have unique characteristics that can affect the required capacity.
- Know the floor area of each room
Start by measuring the width and length to determine the area of a room. For the corridors or hallways, you can also try including their floor areas if significant. You can also include the rest of the rooms where you need cooling or heating.
- Estimate the required capacity for each room
Based on the recommendation of Energy Star, for room areas between 100 and 250 sq ft, the required capacity is around 5000 BTU/hr to 6000 BTU/hr. But, some rooms need more capacity, particularly those with large windows.
They also added that if the room gets a lot of sun, 10% more capacity should be added, or else, it will reduce 10% capacity. If there are more than two persons in the room, add 600 BTU/hr for each additional person. Add 4000 BTU/hr in the kitchen to overcome heat gain from the cooking appliances. Add 1000 BTU/hr for each additional foot for ceiling heights of more than 9 feet.
- Choose the ac unit.
Air conditioners are made with standard capacity and you will never find one with an odd capacity like 7100 BTU/hr. While the cooling capacity of 1 kW is equivalent to the cooling capacity of 3412 BTU/hr, actual air conditioners usually don’t have a precise match with the conversion. So, you just need to choose the air conditioner size that is closest to the cooling capacity you calculated.
How many BTU furnace do I need for a 2000 square feet house
The fundamental principles for the calculator for furniture sizing include the following:
- Bigger houses need more BTU compared to smaller houses, which is directly proportional to the square footage.
- Houses located in colder climates need to produce more heat compared to those in warmer climates.
To get the correct furnace size, you can use the BTU heating required for every square foot for every climate zone.
- 35 BTU/sq ft for Region 1
- 40 BTU/sq ft for Region 2
- 45 BTU/sq ft for Region 3
- 50 BTU/sq ft for Region 4
- 60 BTU/sq ft for Region 5
2000 sq ft homes should double their furnace capacity compared to homes measuring 1000 sq ft only.
Here is an estimated calculation of the BTU furnace you will need depending on the region where you live:
- 70000 BTU/sq ft for Region 1
- 80000 BTU/sq ft for Region 2
- 90000 BTU/sq ft for Region 3
- 100000 BTU/sq ft for Region 4
- 120000 BTU/sq ft for Region 5
How many tons of AC do I need for 2000 square feet
Before you go out and buy an air conditioner, it is important that you calculate the ac tonnage you will need and how to determine ac tonnage from model number. Failure to size your air conditioning properly can easily cost you hundreds of dollars wasted in unit costs and future electricity expenses.
Experts state that in general, an air conditioner will need 20 BTU for every square foot of living space. You need to convert BTU into tonnage, with 1 ton equivalent to 12000 BTU. It means that on average, you will need 0.0016 tons for every square foot.
Simply put, if you want to cool down a 2000 sq ft area, you will need:
AC capacity = 2000 sq ft * 0.0016 tons/sq ft = 3.2 Ton
What size window AC unit for 2000 square feet
Several factors must be considered when sizing a window ac unit for 2000 square feet homes, with the size of the room being the primary factor.
Size of the room determines size of window AC unit
The room’s size is the number one factor when deciding on the size of the window ac unit you will need. Listed below is the number of BTUs required for particular room size.
- 5,000 BTUs for 100 to 150 sq. ft.
- 6,000 BTUs for 150 to 250 sq. ft.
- 7,000 BTUs for 250 to 300 sq. ft.
- 8,000 BTUs for 300 to 350 sq. ft.
- 9,000 BTUs for 350 to 400 sq. ft.
- 10,000 BTUs for 400 to 450 sq. ft.
- 12,000 BTUs for 450 to 550 sq. ft.
- 14,000 BTUs for 550 to 700 sq. ft.
- 18,000 BTUs for 700 to 1,000 sq. ft.
- 21,000 BTUs for 1,000 to 1,200 sq. ft.
- 23,000 BTUs for 1,200 to 1,400 sq. ft.
- 24,000 BTUs for 1,400 to 1,500 sq. ft.
- 30,000 BTUs for 1,500 to 2,000 sq. ft.
- 34,000 BTUs for 2,000 to 2,500 sq. ft.
These ac sizes assume 8 ft of ceiling height. If your ceiling happens to be higher than 8 ft, you might want to increase the size in BTUs by up to 10% to make up for the room’s added volume.
Effects of sunlight
When the room gets plenty of sunlight, it will need additional energy for the room to remain comfortable and cool. You can increase the AC’s size by 10% for rooms that get lots of suns.
Available electrical power
Bigger window ac units need more power. Several units need special outlets while some need more outlet current. Be sure to consider the type and amount of power available to your window and pick an air conditioning unit that is going to work well with the current wiring. If you have no idea about your electrical requirements, be sure to consult with a professional electrician.
Window ac size for kitchens
Kitchens need more energy to stay cool and these rooms also need a bigger air conditioner. The different appliances can create plenty of heat in the kitchen that can make them more difficult to cool. Make sure that you consider the additional heat of the stove or oven on a warm and sunny day. To help cool the kitchen, you need to add an extra 4000 BTUs to the air conditioner’s size.
Number of people
The heat of the human body can significantly heat a room. If there are more than two persons in a room constantly, you might want to increase the size of your window ac by 10% up to 20%.
Cost of operation
It is also important to consider the air conditioner’s operating costs. Bigger appliances will use up more electricity so operating these will also cost you more.
Size of the window
The size of the window can also dictate the size of window ac that you can use for a room. If the room has windows that don’t allow for the correct sized ac, you can use two smaller units if there are two windows in the room or you can also opt for an in-room ac instead of a window ac.
How big of an air conditioner do I need for 2000 sq ft
To determine the size of air conditioner you will need for 2000 sq ft, first, you should know how the sizes of air conditioners are determined.
The cooling capacity of an AC unit is measured in tons according to the amount of BTU or British Thermal Units it can eliminate within one hour. For instance, a 1-ton unit can remove 12000 BTU, while a 2-ton unit can eliminate 24000 BTU, and so on.
In general, home air conditioners begin at 1.5 tons and increase in increments of half-ton. It is not likely that your house will need a unit bigger than 5 tons.
You can use several guidelines according to your home’s square footage for you to get a good ballpark estimate of the size of the unit you might need.
For instance, you could roughly estimate 1-ton for every 750 to 1000 sq ft, which means that a 2000 sq ft house may need a unit of 2 to 2.5 tons. However, it is important to keep in mind that several factors, including the size and number of windows, exposure of these windows to the west and south, and the insulation of the house will affect the size of the unit.
Importance of getting the correct size of air conditioner for your home
If you are living in an area with a hot climate, it is easy to assume that getting an oversized air conditioner will help you beat the heat.
But, that is not the case at all. It will only give you more problems instead of solving the existing ones you have.
HVAC units are meant to run continuously over long periods and during this time, they can get rid of excess humidity while keeping your building cool. If you have a very large ac unit, it will stop and start often that can result in reduced lifespan for your ac unit together with humidity concerns inside your home.
Installing the right size of ac unit for your house can make a significant effect on your energy bills and comfort levels alike. You might assume that bigger is better all the time but again, it is not the case.
If you end up buying an air conditioner that is too big, this will just cool your house too fast. It will cause the unit to shut off then turn back on, again and again, which will lead to higher costs, lower efficiency, and sometimes, more repairs than necessary.
On the other hand, when you opt for a unit that is too tiny for your house, it will end up running constantly to keep the space cool and there are instances when it might never reach the preferred temperature. It can increase your costs and might make you endure a warm house during the summer months.
Having an air conditioner installed in your house is a significant investment and picking the wrong unit with the wrong size can have negative effects on your energy bills.
How much does an air conditioner cost for a 2000 sq ft home
An average air conditioning unit with a cooling capacity of 1-ton can cool approximately 400 sq ft of a house. It will generate about 12000 BTU for every 600 sq ft. Using it as your reference, you will need an air conditioner of 5 tons capacity to cool your 2000 sq ft house. This ac unit can remove 60000 BTUs per hour. It will cost anywhere around $1,980 for each ac unit.
How much does it cost to install central air conditioning in a 2000 square feet house
Various factors can affect the price of a central air conditioning unit and among them is the square feet of a house. It will help if you can determine how much area you would like to cool around your home. Installing a central air conditioner for a 2000 sq ft house can cost you anywhere from $3,000 up to $6,000.
Curious to know can you put an air conditioner in the kitchen?
