How can I tell if my A/C unit is the right size for my Apt.?

Question

I have a 1040 sq.ft. apt in houston,TX and my elect. bill is normally $240+ a month. Ppl have told me that since my A/C unit is small, it runs all the time and causes more energy usage. How can i know what size unit would fit the square footage of my apt.?

Answer 1

Living in Houston Texas with all that HUMIDITY and heat, I would recommend a 2 1/2 ton unit. You can find out what size unit you have by looking at the model number in most cases. Look for numbers such as 12,18, 24, 30, etc in the model number itself...the Numbers are for BTU ratings, 12,000 btu's is a 1 ton, same as 30,000 btu;s is a 2 1/2 ton, But, Being in an apartment, I'm sure they installed a 1 1/2 ton or a 2 ton at best, Talk to the apartment personnel about having your evaporator cleaned and have them bring you a new filter each month as rent is due. Also have them clean the condensing unit outside, Those items alone will help the high electric bill and give you some fresh air.

Answer 2

You should have at least a 1 1/2 ton unit 18,000 B T U. This size of unit will cycle, a smaller unit will run most of the time. You can cut you electric bill by turning off the hot water heater, turning it on about 2 hours before you need hot water. Why pay to heat water 24 - 7 when it is not being used. You can also do this with your A/C. Install a programmable thermostat, you can set it to come on or off day or night 24 -7. if your not there why pay to cool an empty apartment. These two things should cut you electric bill by $100.00 or more. When ever renting an apartment get one in the middle this way you are being kept cool or heated by your neighbors.

Answer 3

Homes in their cooling requirements. l2,000 btu's will cool from 400-700 square feet. So, depending upon varying conditions, 17-30k btu'ss are required to cool one square foot of a home that has 8-ft ceilings. Skylights, windows, exposure to the sun, number of occupants, heavy in-and-out traffic, etc. are just some of the factors that cause such a significant variance.
As a rule of thumb, a 5,000 btu AC should cool one room of 300 sq.ft. If you have 220v recept. near a window, you may get by with a 13.5k btu AC. If you have 110v, the largest btu you could put in (if the circuit is dedicated) may be 11.5.

Answer 4

The provider type numbers are written with a huge decision in it that tells what percentage BTU's of cooling it has. 12000 btu's equivalent one ton. if 3 tons then the large variety must be 36 to point (36,000 btu) or 3 tons. IE.... 36,000 devided by using 12000 = 3 tons.

Answer 5

Remember if the house is poorly insulated it will not retain the cool air as well,so I would also address this issue to ensure that when you get the correct AC unit your cool air and your money isn't slipping through the cracks.

Answer 6

usually there is a chart on the box that the unit comes in, (or a similar box), that has the BTU's needed per square foot...

Answer 7

AC's are rated for cooling square footage. determine your square footage(space cooled, sometimes NOT your total square footage in a house), then look on the airconditioner.
...jj

Answer 8

Buy a Trane unit. and ask a qualified Trane dealer to come evaluate
you apt.

Answer 9

Go with a 18000 BTU unit...will work well! 12000 BTU will run most of the time...anything smaller will run constantly!!