A Quick Intro to Tonnage
As a homeowner it can get rather confusing as there are a number of factors you have to look into. Which HVAC system brand, SEER rating, and tonnage all come into play. Many of these are rather confusing to the average person and are assumed knowledge by the HVAC sales person when speaking to the homeowner. However, with today’s many advertisements and talks of energy efficiency, one can get a grip of what they are and who are the major brands that provide these units.
Now contrary to popular belief, tonnage is not speaking about the weight of the AC. It’s actually the measurement of heat removed from an area. The measurement for this is BTU ( British Thermal Units), so that being said 1 ton is equal to 12,000 BTU’s.
How does Tonnage relate to my System and How Are They Different
As there is now an understanding of BTU’s and how it relates to tonnage, the correlation can be made to HVAC systems with different tonnage. For common households you’ll see 2-5 ton systems. Moving forward, how can you determine which ton unit are you going to need for your home? A general rule of thumb most HVAC sales person and Technician use 500 SqFt is equivalent to 1 ton. Here is a reference guide to help you on what sized unit will be best for your home, pulled from dnmech.com.
When it comes to sizing, you must be sure to find the correct size unit for your home. If you have an undersized unit you can run the risk of seriously damage your unit while also undercooling your home. To be exact your HVAC system communicates with the thermostat to know when the desired temperature is reached. Conversely, with a smaller sized unit in a larger home the unit would most likely not reach the desired temperature. If it does reach the desired temperature it would and will take a very long time. That being said this can have a negative effect on the system because with the unit constantly working in an attempt to cool a larger home will cause components to have major wear and tear over time.
Concluding Thoughts
In conclusion, understanding tonnage is vital for homeowners when picking the right HVAC system. It’s one of those less talked about factors among all the brand and energy efficiency stuff. Tonnage is just a way to measure how much heat your air conditioner can take away, not how heavy it is. So, to keep your place comfy and your system in good shape, you need to get the right-sized unit. If it’s too big or too small, you’ll end up with issues like higher bills, less comfort, and possible damage to your AC. When you get why tonnage matters and how it links to system size, you can make smarter choices for a cozy and energy-efficient home.
