Air conditioning how many btu

Even though they're physical commodities and quantified accordingly, such as by volume or barrels, they can be converted to BTUs depending on the energy or heat content inherent in each quantity. BTU as a unit of measurement is more useful than physical quantity because of fuel's intrinsic value as an energy source. This allows many different commodities with intrinsic energy properties to be compared and contrasted; for instance, one of the most popular is natural gas to oil.

BTU can also be used pragmatically as a point of reference for the amount of heat that an appliance generates; the higher the BTU rating of an appliance, the greater the heating capacity.

As for air conditioning in homes, even though ACs are meant to cool homes, BTUs on the technical label refer to how much heat the air conditioner can remove from their respective surrounding air. The smaller the volume, the fewer BTUs are required to cool or heat.

Thermal insulation is defined as the reduction of heat transfer between objects in thermal contact or in the range of radiative influence.

The importance of insulation lies in its ability to lower BTU usage by managing as much as possible the inefficient wasting of it due to the entropic nature of heat — it tends to flow from warmer to cooler until there are no longer temperature differences. Generally, newer homes have better insulating ability than older homes due to technological advances as well as a more strict building code.

Owners of older homes with dated insulation that decide to upgrade will not only improve on the ability for the home to insulate resulting in friendlier utility bills and warmer winters , but also have the value appreciation of their homes. The R-value is the commonly used measure of thermal resistance, or ability of heat to transfer from hot to cold through materials and their assembly. Learn How a Product Earns the Label. Remember that bigger is not always better! Buying an air conditioner that is too large does not provide better cooling.

An oversized air conditioner is less effective and wastes energy at the same time. Make sure your unit is properly sized. Use this label to determine the model's energy use, compare the energy use of similar models, and estimate annual operating costs. In a conventional room air conditioner, the compressor works either at maximum capacity when the room thermostat calls for cooling or off when the desired temperature has been achieved, typically alternating frequently between full on and off.

Room air conditioners with efficient variable speed compressors can vary the speed of the internal compressor motor to continuously control the temperature. As a result, the capability for efficient variable output allows a room air conditioner regulate the temperature more quietly, while saving a significant amount of energy during operation.

Room air conditioner sizing is all about matching the room size to the air conditioner size. A unit that is too big will be less effective and offer reduced air conditioner efficiency. Air conditioners remove both heat and humidity from the air. If the unit is too large, it will cool the room, before it has a chance to remove the humidity. The result will be a room that's not very comfortable to spend time in That cool moist air will make the room feel damp and clammy.

The most energy efficient air conditioner is sized to the square footage of the space to be cooled. Getting the right size means getting the comfort and the energy efficiency right. Determining the floor square footage of the area to be cooled takes simple math. Here are three top picks. Here are three solid choices. Tougher federal energy standards for window air conditioners make newer models cheaper to run.

The higher the EER, the lower your operating costs. Keeping your AC in peak condition can also help you save. A dirty filter causes an air conditioner to work harder.

Many air conditioners have a timer that you can set to cool a room before you get home. And some have an app for your smartphone that you can use in case you forget to do it before you leave the house. We rely on our window air conditioners to keep us cool when temperatures climb.

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