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How to Find the Right Size Unit for Your HVAC Installation

All About New HVAC Installations

Getting a new HVAC system can feel like an overwhelming project. It’s a major expense and something that’s going to affect your life on a daily basis. As a result, it’s important to make the right decisions. Yet, most homeowners have little or no experience with choosing the right HVAC system.

When doing so, one of the most important things to figure out is the size HVAC system that you need. If your unit is too large it will waste money and energy, and if it’s too small, it won’t properly cool or heat your home. As a result, when doing an HVAC installation it’s important to install the right-sized unit. Here are some tips to help guide you through that process.

Take Your Home’s Size into Account

home sizeThe best place to start when determining what size unit to get is with your home’s square footage. While this isn’t the only factor to consider, it will give you a good place to start and a good approximation of the capacity that you need.

HVAC capacity is measured in BTUs or British Thermal Units. You can use your home’s square footage to approximate the number of BTUs needed in an HVAC system. For example, a home that is 1000 square feet needs about 18,000 BTUs; a home that is 1,400 square feet needs about 23,000 BTUs.

Now, a home that is 2,000 square feet needs about 30,000 BTUs. While square footage doesn’t give you an exact answer, determining the BTUs needed for your home’s square footage is a good place to start to determine the HVAC capacity that you need.

Understanding BTUs

Given that HVAC capacity is measured in BTUs, it’s helpful to have some understanding of what this unit of measurement it. A British Thermal Unit is a unit used to measure thermal energy - i.e., heat.

british thermal unit

One BTU refers to the amount of energy needed to raise 1 pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit at sea level. When talking about HVAC capacity, this measurement refers to how many BTUs per hour the product can add or remove from the air.

The Importance of Talking to a Professional

call a professionalWhile it’s always important to have an understanding of major projects that you are taking on in your home, it’s also important to reach out to professionals.

This is especially true when it comes to an HVAC installation. While you can use square footage as an estimate, it won’t give you the exact capacity you need.

To get the size right, you’ll also want to consider other things like ductwork, insulation and window size, and quality. A professional HVAC technician can help guide you through this process and ensure that you get the right capacity for your home.

Remember to Work With Your Local Pros

Wolfgang’s Cooling & Heating has been providing exceptional HVAC service to the Tempe area since 1981. The team is dedicated to providing flawless and hassle-free services to all customers.

With over 175 years of combined experience, the Wolfgang's Cooling & Heating team has the experience and training to provide only the best quality services. Further, with extensive guarantees, they give customers long-term solutions and peace of mind.

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