carrier air conditions?

Question

what tonage of AC unit would it take to cool a room 23'10x16'6

Answer 1

23' x 16.5' = 380 ft²

The web link below provides a general rule of thumb of around 30 BTU/hr for each square foot of space.

380 ft² x 30 BTU/hr/ft² = 11,400 BTU/hr

1 ton of cooling capacity is 12,000 BTU/hr

Based on these numbers, you need an AC unit that is roughly one ton.

In today's Best Buy newspaper insert there are ads for window AC units. (page 27 in my version) They list several small window units ranging from 5000 to 12,000 BTU/hr. They also show an approximate room size as "cools up to __ ft². The numbers posted in the ad seem to indicate that 30 BTU/hr/sq. ft is a bit high.

Based on your room size you're kind of between Fridgidaire's 8000 and 10,000 BTU/hr units. (Listed as "up to" 350 ft² and 490 ft² respectively.) If your room faces the afternoon sun, I'd go with the 10,000 BTU/hr unit.

Don't go much larger otherwise the unit will cool the room too fast and not dehumidify the air. You'll end up with "cold-clammy" air. You're actually be more comfortable with a slighly smaller air conditioner than an over-sized unit.

Answer 2

I believe that one ton is a bit large. However, we have nothing to go on other than the room size. Whatever you install, get one with high/ low cooling capacity. If the room will be full of people you may need the additional capacity. Also if there are large southern-facing windows you may need the extra capacity.
We used 500 sq ft per sensible ton for our "rule of thumb" estimates, however if we used "rules of thumb" too often we sometimes got "the finger".