A practical guide to air conditioner sizes
Find the ideal size air con to suit your home
In the world of air conditioning, “one size fits all” is definitely not a concept. As a matter of fact, determining the right size and capacity is the first step in choosing the perfect air conditioner for you to enjoy the comfort this summer. So let’s find out how to do the correct calculations!
There are some common sizing mistakes to avoid. With air cons, bigger is not always better, since oversized units will turn on and off, increasing strain on the compressor and your energy bill! On the other hand, if you choose an air con that is too small for the intended space, it will work far too hard to do the job and eventually bring you the same result as in the first case.
To help you avoid these mistakes, we’ve asked the Jaric Air Conditioning experts for some handy pointers to help you understand the basis of air conditioner sizing. Let’s get started!
How to calculate the air con size and capacity you need
1) Apply a formula
The first step in determining the correct capacity of an air con unit is to calculate the surface of the area you wish to cool. After doing this, you need to measure the ceiling height, since this factor is also part of the formula we’ll unveil below.
Here are a few references, based on a room with an insulated roof and normal window sizes:
Ceiling height is 2.4 m
Surface area x 150 watts/ m2
Ceiling height is 2.7 m
Surface area x 160 watts/m2
Ceiling height is 3 m
Surface area x 175 watts/ m2
For example, if you wish to cool a house having a surface area of 100 m2 and ceiling height of 2.7 m, then you multiply 100 by 160, which equals 16,000 watts or 16 kW. This is the capacity you should look for at the air conditioner.
2) Try using an online calculator
When you work with an online calculator, you may expect more accurate results than the ones from the previous method. Note that you iwll need to provide detailed information of your house.
Other factors to take into consideration include:
- Shady or sunny rooms
- Type of wall and roof insulation (if applicable)
- Number of inhabitants per room
The calculator created by AIRAH (Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating) can be a great tool to determine the air con capacity you need for your home.
3) Get professional advice from a qualified air con expert
Undoubtedly the most precise method to learn about the correct size and capacity of the air conditioning system that best suits your lifestyle is talking to an expert.
Talk to Jaric about the ideal air conditioner for your home
With years of professional experience and customer satisfaction, the team at Jaric are ready to give you an accurate answer to your questions, and find the right air con for your needs.
Call Jaric Air Conditioning today at 1300 452 742 or get in touch with us online.
