Section 1 Basic Information
1-6
How to Choose a Room Air Conditioner
Compared to large capacity central units, room air conditioners have several advantages. The initial cost of a room air
conditioning unit is signi cantly lower that the cost of central air. Because room air conditioners are designed for
cooling small spaces, operating costs are reduced. And, room air conditioners can provide personalized temperature
and humidity controls that central systems cannot.
Calculating Cooling Capacity
Cooling capacity is the critical factor in properly selecting a room air conditioner. Cooling capacity is measured in Brit-
ish Thermal Units (BTUs) and typical models will range in capacity from 5,000 BTUs to 28,500 BTUs. Choosing an
undersized unit will overwork the unit and it will not cool properly. Choosing an oversized unit will cost more to buy
and operate and it will not dehumidify properly. Your dealer can help you to calculate capacity. Be prepared to provide
speci c information on:
Cooling Capacity by Room Size
Measure the length and width of the area to be cooled. Multiply the length by the width to determine square footage
or square meters. Locate the room size in the chart below to select the appropriate BTUs. Then use the product infor-
mation to select the unit for your room.
Room Size
BTU
Sq. Feet.
Sq. Meters
150
14
Up to 5,000
165
15
5,200
216
20
6,000
350
33
8,000
425
39
9,000
500
46
10,000
640
60
14,000
900
84
15,100
1,110
103
18,000
1,170
109
18,500
1,435
133
22,000
1,672
154
25,000
1,960
182
28,500
next BTU size or consult your sales professional.
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