Establish
which zone you live in and refer to the charts below to assist
you in determining the right size system for your needs.
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Proper System Sizing
The
sizing chart above is not the scientific method to calculate proper system
sizing. However, this chart is useful to help you determine your approximate
system size requirements.
In
order to scientifically calculate how
many BTU's your environment requires,
you must perform a Residential Load
Calculation. For your convenience, we have
an inexpensive and easy to use software
download available. If you purchase your
equipment from us, we will refund the cost
of the download.
Another
method is to determine the system size that is currently in place. The
manufacturers do not list the tonnage on the unit. (very helpful, huh?) The
system capacity will be coded into the model number of the outdoor unit.
For
example, model CKL24-1 is a 2 ton unit. Why? There are 12,000 Btu's per ton.
The number 24 in the model number indicates the unit is 24,000 Btu's, divided
by 12,000 Btu's per ton, equals 2 tons.
24,000
Btu's/12,000 Btu's per ton = 2 tons
Use the
following conversion information to determine your existing system size (use
the model number NOT the serial number)
-
18 = 1.5
tons
-
24 = 2
tons
-
30 = 2.5
tons
-
36 = 3
tons
-
42 = 3.5
tons
-
48 = 4
tons
-
60 = 5
tons
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When you
are selecting the correct system size, be careful not to make the mistake of
getting one which is too large. If the system you install is too large for the
space, it will short cycle. In other words, the compressor will not run long
enough to dehumidify the space and will limit your comfort. In addition, it
will cycle on and off more frequently, increasing operating costs and reducing
the system life.
If
you're still unsure which system size is right for you, or
if you're having difficulty downloading the Residential System
Sizing Calculator, please e-mail us
or call our toll free number at 1-866-862-8922.
An experienced design technician will be happy to assist you.
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Heating Guide
Use the
lower of the two numbers if your home is well insulated and the higher number
if it is older or poorly insulated. (Hint: Use the larger of the two numbers
above if you're unsure of your home's insulation)
Simply
multiply the appropriate factor above by your home's total heated square
footage to arrive at your approximate required heating capacity. For example,
if you live in the yellow zone, your home is well insulated, and you have 2000
heated square feet, the equation will look like this:
2000
square feet
X .40 heating factor
(from the chart above)
80,000
Btu actual output
Then, to
calculate the output on a gas furnace, multiply its efficiency rating by its
listed input rating for the actual Btu output of heat. For example, if a
furnace has a listed input rating of 100,000 Btu's and an efficiency rating of
80%, it will produce
100,000
Btu input
X .80 efficiency
80,000
Btu actual output
If the
same 100,000 Btu furnace has an efficiency rating of 93% it will produce:
100,000
Btu input
X .93 efficiency
93,000
Btu actual output
For this
example, using an 80% efficient furnace, the 2000 square foot home above would
require a 100,000 Btu input furnace which will produce the necessary 80,000
Btu's output of heat.
If
you're still unsure which system size is right for you, please
e-mail us or call our
toll free number at 1-866-862-8922. An experienced design technician
will be happy to assist you.
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Insulation Variables
Variables
such as your insulation, type and number of windows, number of stories,
construction type, etc. will greatly effect the correct sizing of your system.
A general rule of thumb is that if your home is well insulated with newer style
windows, you can select the smaller size system that falls within your total
square footage. If your home is two story it will place less of a load on the
system in the downstairs area as the second floor acts as additional
insulation.
If your
home is not well insulated, has older style windows, and/or a larger than
average number of windows, you will want to select the larger system which
falls within your square footage range. The less insulated and more windows
within the environment, the more likely you will experience greater air and
heat loss.
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Contact Us for More Info
If
you're still unsure which system size is right for you, or
if you're having difficulty downloading the Residential System
Sizing Calculator, please
e-mail us or call our
toll free number at 1-866-862-8922. An experienced
design technician
will be happy to assist you.
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