Choosing the Right Air Conditioner Size for Your Arizona Home
Arizona’s hot, arid plateaus and deserts start the summer at approximately 77°F and ramp up to temperatures of 108°F, sometimes reaching as high as 113 degrees! Such fierce heat makes efficient air conditioning crucial for comfort and health. Choosing and investing in the correct AC requires some research and understanding. A correctly sized air conditioner efficiently cools your home, maintains the desired temperature for comfort, saves money by using less energy, and ensures a long lifespan. If your air conditioner is too small, it will struggle to cool your home and cause high energy bills. An oversized AC increases purchase costs, decreases comfort, and also creates high energy bills. The following are some tips that will help in choosing the right size air conditioner for your space.
Choosing the Right Air Conditioner Size: The Main Recommendations
The correct size AC for your home largely depends upon square footage. Following are steps to determine the optimal size air conditioner for your space.
- Determine the square footage: Measure the width and length of a room. Multiply these numbers to determine square footage. Repeat for each room.
- Calculate total square footage: Add together the square footage of each room.
- Calculate the number of BTUs needed: Multiply your home’s square footage by 20 to determine the necessary BTUs.
- Reduce the capacity by 10% if your home is heavily shaded.
- Increase the capacity by 10% if your home is exposed to full sun.
- Add 600 BTUs for each additional person over two that regularly occupies your home.
- Consult the following chart for the appropriate size.
| Home Size (square footage) | BTUs needed | AC Size (Tons) |
| 700 to 1,000 square feet | 18,000 | 1.5 |
| 1,000 to 1,200 square feet | 21,000 | 1.75 |
| 1,200 to 1,400 square feet | 23,000 | 1.92 |
| 1,400 to1,600 square feet | 24,000 | 2 |
| 1,600 to 1,800 square feet | 27,000 | 2.25 |
| 1,800 to 2,000 square feet | 30,000 | 2.5 |
| 2,000 to 2,200 square feet | 33,000 | 2.75 |
| Home Size (square footage) | BTUs needed | AC Size (Tons) |
| 700 to 1,000 square feet | 18,000 | 1.5 |
| 1,000 to 1,200 square feet | 21,000 | 1.75 |
| 1,200 to 1,400 square feet | 23,000 | 1.92 |
| 1,400 to1,600 square feet | 24,000 | 2 |
| 1,600 to 1,800 square feet | 27,000 | 2.25 |
| 1,800 to 2,000 square feet | 30,000 | 2.5 |
| 2,000 to 2,200 square feet | 33,000 | 2.75 |
Other Factors to Consider
Though square footage is the main determiner of AC size, there are other factors to consider.
- Height of the ceiling: Size calculations for an air conditioner are based on 9-foot ceilings, the average for most modern homes. Higher ceilings may require a higher BTU air conditioner.
- Condition of your ductwork: Leaky ductwork reduces cooling efficiency and wastes energy, requiring a more powerful air conditioner to compensate.
- Appliance usage: Laundry rooms and kitchens contain appliances that generate heat, making it harder to cool the room.
- The facade of your home: Siding and color affect how naturally cool your home is. Dark paint and dense materials (brick, rock, etc.) absorb more heat. Trees and awnings reduce heat absorption.
- Level of your home’s insulation: Efficient insulation keeps heat out, allowing a smaller AC. Poorly insulated homes require a larger unit to maintain temperatures.
- Level of occupancy: Humans generate heat. More people require more BTUs to offset their heat.
- Exposure to the sun: South-facing homes receive more sunlight, absorb more heat, and take longer to cool, potentially requiring a larger AC. Less sun exposure allows for a smaller AC.
- Number/type of windows: More, larger, less energy-efficient, and south or west-facing windows create more need for cooling and potentially require a larger AC.
- Climate: Due to the fiery temperatures of Arizona, the AC units in this area run more frequently, operate more hours per day, and are needed for more months per year. If your home is in the plateaus or deserts of Arizona, choose a unit with a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio).
Use the recommendations above for choosing the right size air conditioner.
How McMillin Air Can Help
As many factors affect the size of the air conditioner optimal for your home, it’s best to get a professional opinion. Contact McMillin Air. We consider your climate control goals, your home’s facade, the efficiency of your windows, and your geographical location. We’ll help you find the best solution for your home, answer questions, and offer recommendations. Our qualified team can design, install, and service an HVAC unit that meets your needs. We’ll make sure you’re comfortable in your home.
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