To purchase the right air conditioner for your home, it helps to be familiar with jargons such as SEER ratings and BTUs. Before choosing a new air conditioner to buy, you need to find out how many BTUs your home needs to stay at a comfortable temperature.
But what exactly is a BTU? This is an acronym for British Thermal Unit, a unit of measurement used to measure thermal heat. It is the amount of heat energy needed to heat 1 pound of water by 1°F. When used in relation to the air conditioning industry, the BTU measurement means the amount of heat a new air conditioner can remove from a room or a building within an hour.
BTU Explained in Simpler Terms
Explained in simple terms, BTU is the capacity of a new air conditioner to cool a house. A BTU measurement is important because it determines the amount of heat an air conditioner can remove from a house or a room. For example, a small new air conditioner can remove about 5,000 BTUs in a room that has a size of 150 square feet.
The higher the BTU of a new air conditioner, the larger space it can cool. However, as the BTU increases, the size, weight, and cost of the air conditioner will also increase.
How BTU Matters When Purchasing a Brand New Air Conditioner
One of the most important things to consider in buying a new air conditioner unit is to match its BTU capacity to room size. Purchasing the highest BTU rating does not guarantee you will be getting the best deal. Air conditioner sizing is important because a unit that is too small or has a low BTU rating will not adequately cool your house, while a new air conditioner unit that is too big or has a high BTU will cost you more than what is necessary.
You need to be wary of heating and cooling companies in St. Louis that will try to make you purchase an air conditioner that is too big for your needs. Those that do are either trying to take more money out of you or they do not know how to accurately size a room or a home. At Galmiche & Sons, you are assured of working with a contractor who has an impeccable reputation within the HVAC industry. We have the experience and are credible enough to give you sound advice when it comes to the proper sizing and the correct BTU rating for your home.
Other Factors to Consider When Purchasing a New Air Conditioner
Aside from square footage, other factors to consider when purchasing a new air conditioner and determining the BTU requirements are the number of floors and windows, number of people using the area, function of the room, ceiling height, and climate. As you can see, a lot of factors go into the estimate of a properly-sized air conditioner. To ensure that you get the right system for your St. Louis heating & air conditioning needs, call us at Galmiche & Sons now at 314-993-1110!
