Learning a little about how BTUs work in conjunction with HVAC components can help you understand what size air conditioner or furnace best fits your particular house in a specific geographic location. BTU is short for British Thermal Unit and, at its most basic, it is the accepted metric to express units of heat.
Technically speaking, one BTU equals the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by 1 degree. But what does that have to do with how BTUs work when it comes to home comfort and energy efficiency? Here’s the role BTUs play in your HVAC system.
Why BTUs Matter
Furnaces and air conditioners are rated by BTU capacity. For furnaces, the BTU rating expresses how much heat energy the unit will add to the house. With air conditioners, the BTU rating refers to how much heat the unit can extract from the house in order to keep it comfortably cool.
How Sizing Counts When It Comes to How BTUs Work
A professional sizing calculation performed by a certified HVAC contractor is critical to ensuring that a unit installed in a particular house has the right BTU specs. “Sizing” means matching the BTU rating of an air conditioner or furnace to numerous specific characteristics of a house or other structure. A few examples include:
- Square footage of the house
- Climate zone where the structure is located
- Amount and type of insulation in the structure
- Number and size of windows
- Average daily sun exposure the home receives
What’s the Right Size?
This data is entered into industry-standard sizing software, which calculates the exact BTU capacity for that specific house. An HVAC unit with a BTU capacity lower than the sizing calculation indicates will not adequately heat or cool the home, meaning that operating costs will be high and indoor comfort will be impacted. A furnace or AC with a BTU capacity higher than the sizing calculation indicates will work too hard, cycling on and off very frequently and incurring excessive wear and tear.
For more information about how BTUs work to cool or heat your home efficiently, talk to the professionals at Ace Hardware Home Services.
