What Size Btu Window Air Conditioner Do I Need

Now measure the width from the inner most part of the side window opening.

What size btu window air conditioner do i need.

A window air conditioner s btu quantifies the size room it can handle. Written on the side of each box of window air conditioners there s a chart that displays the opening size requirements for that particular window air conditioner. One btu is enough energy to heat one pound of water by 1 degree f a few tips. Consumer reports recommends 20 btus per square foot of the living space or spaces you want to cool down.

How do i calculate the right size air conditioner. But no worries about having to do any confusing equations luckily there s a convenient list for figuring how much a c power you need for a room based on the room s square footage. Open the bottom window and measure the opening from the bottom of the window to the top of the window ledge. The cooling power of an air conditioner is calculated in british thermal units btus.

As a rule of thumb an air conditioner needs 20 btu for each square foot of. Here s an easy to read chart to help you pair up your square footage to the proper size btu number. The best you can do here is to buy a small 5 000 btu window or small 8 000 btu portable ac unit more about smallest ac units here. According to the us department of energy directive the most appropriate size of an air conditioner would be 2 880 btu unit.

Window air conditioners typically have a cooling capacity ranging from 5 000 to 12 500 british thermal units btu hr.