Is a Higher BTU Better for an Air Conditioner?

Have questions about which air conditioner matches your room size? Hickory Heating & Cooling, Hickory’s AC installation company, can help; call 828-439-0790.

Many people think that more power is better. That may ring true for many circumstances, but does that principle apply when shopping for an air conditioner to fit a specific room size?

At Hickory Heating & Cooling, we measure the power of an HVAC system in BTUs. Is a higher BTU better for an air conditioner? Let’s dive into this complex topic below. 

What Does BTU Mean?

BTU is an abbreviation of British Thermal Unit. Every air conditioning unit can remove a specific amount of heat from the air. Technicians and manufacturers measure this capability in BTUs.

An air conditioner with a higher BTU will cool larger spaces efficiently. Systems with a lower BTU count are designed to cool smaller spaces. Because of this, some homeowners believe that a unit with a higher BTU offers a better cooling speed and more efficiency than the smaller BTU measurements.

But HVAC systems are a rare case where more power doesn’t mean better performance in all scenarios. 

How to Measure BTUs per Square Foot

Both air conditioners and furnaces have historically depended on specific measurements to calculate how well they’ll heat or cool a space. The amount of BTUs your unit needs depends on the size of your space and your local climate. You should also factor in:

• Your insulation’s efficiency
• Whether you have high ceilings
• Any other measures taken to improve efficiency

Generally, you need 20 BTUs per square foot of space. For example, a room with 150 square feet needs at least 3,000 BTUs to heat and cool it. Once you factor in your local climate coupled with other factors, your recommended BTU could increase to 5,400.

Other examples of square footage vs. BTU requirements include the following calculations:

• A room with 200 square feet needs up to 6,000 BTUs.
• Rooms with 400 square feet require up to 9,000 BTUs. 
• An area of 450 square feet needs up to 10,000 BTUs. 

Should You Choose an AC With a Higher BTU? 

So, is a higher BTU better for an air conditioner? It is for areas with large square footage. But choosing a system with a high BTU measurement for a small space will do more harm than good.

If you have a higher BTU than recommended, you’ll face the following issues:

• Constant short cycling
• Inefficient energy usage
• Higher energy bills
• Poor dehumidifying capabilities
• Inaccurate temperature readings

Your air conditioner will switch on and off all the time with little rest in between each cycle. Its components will rapidly degrade as a result, costing more money for repairs.

Replacements for evaporator coils, motors, and fans are expensive. Plus, your unit will wear out more quickly, forcing you to replace it sooner. 

How Does a Lower BTU Affect My Comfort?

Matching a unit with a BTU measurement that falls below the recommendation also has disastrous consequences. It causes many of the same issues as installing a unit that’s too large. However, the unit cycles for too long instead of short cycling. It may never reach the temperature setting on your thermostat.

These longer cycles will also overwork each component and require frequent repairs and more maintenance. They will also shorten your unit’s lifespan significantly. Matching a new unit that can adequately condition the area will prevent these costly, unpredictable issues.

How To Make Sure You Have the Right BTU 

How can you know for certain that you’ve chosen the perfect air conditioner for your home? You may find some helpful BTU calculators online to assist you in finding a reasonable estimate. These calculators factor in things like your local climate, alongside the square footage of your home. However, they usually don’t account for high ceilings, insulation, and other pertinent factors. An HVAC installation expert can catalog anything that’ll influence your HVAC system’s size and BTU measurement. Then, you can rest assured that you’ve equipped your home with the perfect match. 

Let Technicians from Hickory Heating & Cooling Install Your Air Conditioner

Is a higher BTU better for an air conditioner? In many cases, it isn’t. You need an air conditioner with a BTU rating that matches your home’s square footage. At Hickory Heating & Cooling, our installation experts can help you make an informed decision.

Still unsure about how to size an air conditioner? Leave it to our technicians at Hickory Heating & Cooling. Call 828-439-0790 for an estimate.