How much can a 5 ton unit cool?
A 5 ton AC unit generates an outstanding 60,000 BTU of cooling power. This is enough to cool down up to 3000 square feet home.
5-ton AC units are excellent at cooling large spaces, but they do not produce heat on their own. If you live in a warm climate and do not need a forced hot air furnace, you could install a heat pump at the same time as your AC unit to provide some degree of warmth.
On average you need 1 ton of cooling for every 1000 square feet of home.
If your home is 2000 square feet, you can calculate your HVAC needs the same as you would for a 1600 square foot home. Assuming one ton of cooling capacity can cool 400 square feet of your home, you'll need about 5.0 tons of air conditioning capacity. Multiply this by 12,000 BTUs, and you'll get 60,000 BTUs.
Since larger homes are costlier to cool, you'll need a 5-ton unit to cool a 3,000 square-foot home.
Carrier 6 Ton, 11 EER, Air Conditioner Condenser, 208/3.
If your air conditioner is too big, you'll have hot spots – or inconsistent cooling – throughout your home. Hot spots occur most often when cold air doesn't disperse through the home efficiently enough. You'll notice that some of your rooms are cool and comfortable, while others are hot and humid.
It's calculated by dividing the cooling output for a system by the energy used to create it. Most industry experts compare a SEER rating to a car's fuel efficiency. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the cooling system should be.
Not surprisingly, an undersized air conditioner will struggle to cool your home. It'll run longer cycles than it should since the square footage it's trying to cool is simply too large for its output capacity. On the other hand, an oversized unit will short cycle, meaning it'll turn on and off in short bursts.
Is 4 ton or 5 ton AC better?
A lot of people believe that an AC with a bigger capacity is always better when it comes to cooling your home. That, however, isn't really the case. Oversized air conditioners can cause problems and cost you a lot of money in the long run.
This A/C system should be able to remove 60,000 BTU's per hour (5.0 tons x 12,000 BTU's.) A 5.0 TON air conditioner would cost around $1,980 for the AC unit alone or a total installation cost of $5,100. Top known brands may cost more.
Simple answer: You need 0.0016 tons of AC per square foot. In general, for every 600 sq ft, you need 1 ton of AC. This is a general estimate.
Here's some math: You need around 20 BTUs per square foot, which is equivalent to 0.0016 tons. For example, a 600-square-foot space requires a 12,000 BTU or 1-ton unit. By those calculations, an average 1,800-square-foot house would need a 3-ton central air conditioning unit.
A 2,400-square-foot home would need a four-ton unit. Again, there are 2.5-ton and 3.5-ton units in case your square footage doesn't work out perfectly for a two- or three-ton unit, for instance.
If an air conditioner has a 20+ SEER rating, that is considered an excellent energy-efficient unit.
16 SEER vs. 21 SEER ACs: Which is most cost effective? A 21 SEER AC will provide cheaper monthly energy bills. But here's the downside: Even with the monthly savings, it's unlikely that you'll ever recoup the higher upfront cost of the unit.
For most homeowners, opting for a unit with a SEER between 15 and 18 is a good choice because it's a balance between the money you'll spend for the unit and the amount you'll save on utility costs.
...
HVAC Installation Cost Per Square Foot.
| Square Feet | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $4,000 - $5,000 |
| 1,200 | $5,000 - $6,000 |
| 1,500 | $6,000 - $7,000 |
| 2,000 | $7,000 - $8,000 |
The largest residential HVACs generally available are 5-ton units (ton here refers to cooling capacity, not the actual weight of the unit). If your house is so large that it would need six tons or more to effectively cool it, then you'll need to install two or more units.
What size air conditioner do I need for a 3500 square foot house?
Many homes especially in warm climates have more than one central air conditioner. For example, consider a 3500 square foot home in Zone 2 with a Very Sunny rating. It would need between approx. 76,000 and 104,000 BTUs of cooling!
A lot of people believe that an AC with a bigger capacity is always better when it comes to cooling your home. That, however, isn't really the case. Oversized air conditioners can cause problems and cost you a lot of money in the long run.
Simple answer: You need 0.0016 tons of AC per square foot. In general, for every 600 sq ft, you need 1 ton of AC. This is a general estimate.
However, as a general rule of thumb, a 5 ton air conditioner will – on average – use between 3 and 6 kWh (kiloWatt-hours) of energy per hour. Assuming your air conditioner runs for 8 hours a day, it should consume between 25 and 45 kWh of energy per day.
Not surprisingly, an undersized air conditioner will struggle to cool your home. It'll run longer cycles than it should since the square footage it's trying to cool is simply too large for its output capacity. On the other hand, an oversized unit will short cycle, meaning it'll turn on and off in short bursts.
Too Hot or Too Cold Air
An HVAC system with excess capacity can heat or cool your home faster, but that speed often results in a couple of other issues. First, your home won't benefit from gradual, even heating and cooling. As a result, you could end up with a number of hot or cold spots throughout your home.
Carrier 6 Ton, 11 EER, Air Conditioner Condenser, 208/3.
A 2,400-square-foot home would need a four-ton unit. Again, there are 2.5-ton and 3.5-ton units in case your square footage doesn't work out perfectly for a two- or three-ton unit, for instance.
The more BTU your unit produces, the more energy it consumes. So, if you are worried about high energy costs, you should get a unit that is appropriate for your space.
How many BTU do I need for a 1500 square foot house?
A 1,500-square-foot home will require between 45,000 to 90,000 BTUs. A 1,800-square-foot home will require between 55,000 to 110,000 BTUs. A 2,100-square-foot home will require between 65,000 to 125,000 BTUs.
| house size | AC or Heat Pump Size | Furnace Size |
|---|---|---|
| 1,800 sq ft | 2.5 - 3.5 Ton | 81,000 Btu |
| 1,900 sq ft | 3 - 3.5 Ton | 86,000 Btu |
| 2,000 sq ft | 3 - 3.5 Ton | 90,000 Btu |
| 2,100 sq ft | 3 - 4 Ton | 95,000 Btu |
| SQFT | Ton |
|---|---|
| 750 to 1,000 | 2 |
| 1,050 to 1,400 | 2.5 |
| 1,450 to 1,700 | 3 |
| 1,750 to 1,900 | 3.5 |
Here's some math: You need around 20 BTUs per square foot, which is equivalent to 0.0016 tons. For example, a 600-square-foot space requires a 12,000 BTU or 1-ton unit. By those calculations, an average 1,800-square-foot house would need a 3-ton central air conditioning unit.
How cool should my house be if it's 100° outside? The majority of air conditioning units are designed to only cool the air about 20 degrees from the outside temperature. If the temperatures outside are approaching triple digits, you should set your thermostat at about 78°.
Turning Your Air Conditioner On & Off vs.
Since air conditioners use more energy when they cycle all day, it is cheaper to let your system operate at full capacity when you're home instead of running it at a lower capacity all day. The more energy you use, the more money you'll pay in monthly utility bills.
If you have a 5-ton (50-Amp, 60,000 BTUs) air conditioner, you need at least a 20 KW generator.