BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. It’s basically a measurement that indicates how much heat an HVAC system can remove from a home within 60 minutes. It’s a very important metric because it can help you pick the most efficient HVAC equipment for a specific space. All HVAC systems are not created equal. Some systems are designed for one space, and others are built are large, expansive areas. As a result, in order to meet certain cooling demands, you must buy an HVAC unit that has the proper specs and an adequate BTU rating.
The Benefits of BTU Specs
To understand the benefits of BTU ratings, you must understand how an air conditioner works. When an air conditioning system begins a cycle, its coils and fans will remove all heat from the air within a home. Then, other components will move the hot air outdoors. Next, the unit will distribute cooler air to various areas in a home through the ducts.
The air that blasts through the ducts is basically energy. BTUs are designed to measure this energy. These measurements can you help determine how much energy an HVAC unit uses during a cooling cycle. For example, if a system can produce 12,000 BTU, this means that it absorbs 12,000 BTU of heat per hour.
The Advantages
BTU are not only used in the HVAC industry. It’s also a viable measurement system in other fields around the world. For example, BTUs can measure the amount of heat that’s required to alter the temperate of water by one degree. This means that BTUs measurements can apply to:
- A heat pumps
- Furnaces
- Cooking appliances
- Heating and cooling equipment
For air conditioning technicians, BTUs are often used to measure heat gain and heat loss. Both of these metrics matter. Without this data, a technician will have problems improving a system’s overall performance.
When it comes to BTUs, it’s important to have balance. You should never buy an air conditioner system that has too many BTUs or not enough BTUs. If you install a system that has too many BTUs, it will gradually raise your monthly utility costs. In this scenario, your energy bill will spike because the air conditioner will have shorter cooling cycles, and it will waste more energy in the process. In addition, a system that has these specifications will experience a lot of wear and tear if the compressor constantly shuts off at the wrong time. If this happens, more heat will linger within a home, and certain spaces will feel sticky and humid.
If you install a system that has far less BTUs that are required for your home, you’ll have to constantly troubleshoot the unit because it will not operate properly. For starters, the equipment will struggle during each cycle, and it may never shut off between cycles if the temperature in the home fails to reach the temperature on the thermostat. Also, some areas in the home will have temperature inconsistencies. This means that there will be cooler air in certain spaces and warmer temperatures in others. These types of inefficiencies can also lead to higher energy costs.
Important Strategies for HVAC Users
In order to get the most out of a new equipment, you must weigh various HVAC units based on their BTU specifications. Ideally, an average air conditioner needs 20 BTUs for each square foot of space. In order to determine how many BTUs you might need for your home, just multiply the size of the space by 20.
How to Pursue the Correct BTU
There are many types of air conditioning systems with different BTU specs. If you’re new to the world of AC equipment, focus on the equipment first. The equipment matters because it’s the gateway to comfort. After you’ve found your ideal system, narrow down the options and weigh the BTUs.
Great Air Conditioners to Consider
When it comes to AC systems, the most commonly used system is a central air conditioner. This type of air conditioner can cool multiple spaces in a short time, and it can also lower the humidity in the process.
A split mini duct air conditioning unit is great for confined spaces. It’s easy to set up as it does not require any ductwork.
Get Powered Up
Now that you understand the fundamentals of BTUs, you can take the next step. First, select good equipment that meets your cooling requirements, and afterwards, schedule an appointment for the installation.