Btus how many

Cement floor. According to your BTU calculator I would need 18, Not sure if they make that size AC in a portable? In your situation, you would probably need two units, yes.

Hello Pond, your dilemma is understandable. An average sq ft room would need a 7, BTU unit. However, the 3 big windows can really increase the size of the air conditioner you need. Of the two choices, 8, BTU would be the optimum one. However, if the choice falls between 8, BTU and 13, BTU, an optimistic view is that 8, BTU should do the job well without increasing the electricity bill significantly. I am also thinking to add window films like reflective one to help cut down the sunlight and the heat.

Why do you think he is saying that? Hello Mela, for the bedroom, 4, BTU device would be more than enough. Basically, 5, BTU is usually a minimum you can get. I have a lanai square feet with aluminum enclosure and acrylic windows.

What size portable AC would work? In the summer here central Florida the room fells like an oven! Hello Ron, for a sq ft you would need a 5,, BTU portable air conditioner. The minimum size of small portable air conditioners is 8, BTU. The room has a 48 in open doorway to a 90 sq foyer directly opposite the window with the AC unit and a 30 open doorway to a sq ft dining room to the side.

The current 8, BTU unit does not cool the living room sufficiently. Could I go with a 10, or 12, BTU unit? Thanks for the advice! Hello David, in most cases 8, BTU should be more than enough for a sq ft room. However, in your situation with a big window area, the 8, BTU unit might struggle to achieve the required temperature. Here are the specs of my apartment: Ceilings: 8.

I have my doubts. What do you think? I live in southwestern Connecticut. Humidity is high and in recent summers the temperatures are sweltering for weeks.

Hello Meg, the total area to cool down is sq ft. According to the EPA, you would have to multiply that number with 20 to correctly size your air conditioner unit. Of course, other factors such as sun exposure and your location can significantly increase the size of the AC unit that would be most appropriate. Your friend is right. The fans are also useful in order to distribute the cooled air throughout the apartment.

What size are the 2 window units that are currently installed? I use them only for those rooms. The BTUs are more than adequate for the spaces, but the units are too old to work properly and need to be replaced.

The configuration problem I anticipate with using a single unit for the whole apartment is that the air flow from bedroom to living room involves passing through a narrow doorway and make a dog-leg turn. I look on fans as efficiency boosters, not as mandatory links in the cooling chain, if you see what I mean.

Nor do I want to end up blasting the AC in one room but still getting an inferior result in the other. Cooling the living room and the kitchen as one consolidated space is a much easier proposition. But with the need to work from home now, it would be a huge benefit to have another fully habitable room.

They get excellent reviews, and the sturdiness of the mounting looks like it might save wear and tear on the units, given that I must install and uninstall them every year.

Get two air conditioners. A less powerful one just for the bedroom, a more powerful one to handle the two hottest rooms living room and kitchen together. I need to keep an eye on the finances, but this is an infrastructure upgrade. Have a cool summer! Considering this is for a normal housing with wood structure. For example, when I put in the specs for my apartment, 32 ft by 15 ft, 8 ft ceiling and heavily shaded, the BTUs come out to a little over 10, However when I checked off kitchen, it jumps up to over 14, Is that extra BTUs necessary whether or not the kitchen is actually being used?

I am no cook and, except for using my microwave and toaster every everyday, I hardly ever use my kitchen except to go to the refrigerator to get something to drink or find something to heat up in the microwave.

Is there something about the mechanics of the kitchen that will automatically necessitate an increase of BTUs or is there an assumption that the kitchen is actively being used, i.

Hello Scott, thank you for your kind comment. The question is very on point; a rule of thumb is to add 4, BTU for the kitchen because people who have kitchen usually use it kitchen appliances, oven, stove, even fridge all create surplus energy. There is nothing in the nature of the kitchen itself that would call for a more powerful air conditioner. My kitchen is open to the living room with an attached hallway.

I have a total of 5 windows. Kitchen is All open and connected to each other. Please can someone help. Hello Miguel, the square footage of the kitchen, living room, and hallway combined is about sq ft. The minimum size of the mini split unit for sq ft would be 8, BTU. You might want to get an additional fan in order to create indoor airflow that will distribute the cool air evenly, even as far as the end of the hallway. All in all, 12, BTU mini split air conditioner would make a whole lot of sense in your situation.

Any help will do thanks Manny. Hello Manuel, you would need an 8, BTU air conditioner. If there is a hole in that wall, the air-conditioned air will reach both rooms. You can easily put it in the 1st room and then in the 2nd room. The smallest capacity for a portable AC unit is 8, BTU, you can check other small air conditioner choices here.

The room is 12 x Then there is a 5 x 5 casement on the east wall. Hello Bob, the space-wise structure you have there is quite complex. Hello, I am trying to get an AC unit for my fifth-wheeler. The ceiling has a height of 8 ft. Do you think a 15, BTU unit would be an overkill? Also, I am considering that since it is pretty long 32 ft 15, BTU could do a great job.

Thank you. Hello Julio, for sq ft, 15, BTU would be an overkill. The best solution here would be a 10, BTU unit with a strong airflow. Strong airflow — something above CFM — is better for long spaces because it can push the air along the space much better.

As great as it is, unfortunately, it cannot be left in the window during cold winter. Midea owners manual and Midea comments on Amazon recommends that the unit be taken out and stored for winter. I suggested that most people in cold climates never remove their window units, especially heavy 10k BTU models. This is especially true for apartment dwellers, who also have no place to store big AC units. I fear that Midea will get lots of warranty calls next summer when these units fail.

Hopefully they can fix this. Hello Jeffrey, thank you for the insight. I just bought a little single wide in Texas. I am thinking of buying a mini split.

You would need about 20, BTU device, or even a bit more. I just want to start out by saying this is an awesome website and super helpful. I have a sq.

I plan on installing a 2. It is insulated very well with decent heat load as I live in California. Hello James, thank you for the compliments.

You have the right idea about the placements of the 2 head units; a 2. I have a sq ft garage. The mini split system I am looking at comes in or btu. What is best for this size garage? Now, 18, BTU would definitely do the job but it might be an overkill.

According to the calculation, the 12, BTU is nearly enough. Basements tend to be colder because they have less sun exposure and are located near the ground. I have 3 large, sun drenched windows in the front room. The ceilings are 8 feet. Hello Missy, 8, BTU is the optimum capacity.

The 10, BTU would be overkill; it would cool the space better due to 2, BTU more cooling power but the electricity bill and the initial portable AC cost would be higher. You have to close the door somewhere in order to create a sq ft isolated area. I am building a small L shaped home. How climate is mostly in the 80s year round and very humid Hawaii problems? What air cooling system would you recommend.

Thank you for your help. The best option are the 3-zone mini-split units ; you get 1 outside unit and 3 indoor air handlers you distribute evenly around the house. What btu would I need for a window unit?

But not sure if this will be correct?? Hello Tracy, for a big house with big rooms bedroom, 2 other rooms , you can buy a multi-zone mini-split system. My girls just moved into a small 2 bedroom house without ac. We need to decide on portable ac or a window unit. Also I love your calculator. In most literature I see it measured by square footage per room and that it wont cool anymore than that and it wont cool correctly if unit is too big for that room.

Hello Joy, thank you for your kind words. These are the kind of issues you get with window ACs. The total square footage is about sq ft. Normally, you would need a 13, BTU unit for that. If you account for hallways, a 15, BTU portable AC unit placed on the hallway between the rooms might be the most optimum option.

You can check some of the best portable ACs with a high-efficiency rate here. Hello…I live in Mesa, Az and want to install a Mitsubishi mini-split for my garage.

I want to be able to cool the garage down to 80 to 85 degrees from to degrees outside temp. Even in those conditions, the safer way is 25 BTU per sq ft. For a 9 foot garage, 30 BTU per sq ft might be more appropriate.

With 1 window, good insulation, 18, BTU might just be enough, yes. You can check some of the air conditioners appropriate for the garage her e, maybe it could help a bit.

This subject can be much more complicated…. My room is So not much for attic space. So I have the heat load of the equipment to also consider. It is on the west side of house as well. I am also in central Texas! I have a 10,btu window unit in there now that is just enough, but way too noisy. I have window coverings that are insulated. What do you recommend for a mini-split for v with no heat and is whisper quiet?

Thank you It only. Mini-splits might be a good idea because they have whisper-quiet noise levels. I have sq foot house. Currently a small unit in living Room. Hello Selena, 20, BTU unit has the right size, and will deal both with hot and humid indoor air.

If you will have to upgrade your electrical grid just for that, it might make more sense to buy an additional 12, BTU or 15, BTU unit. Together, they will also create a more homogenous cooling without hot spots ; this might be a problem with 1 20, BTU unit if it has a low airflow measuring in CFM.

Your site has given me a lot of ideas… but not fully addressing my specific need. There are shaded non-glass windows tax reasons on two of the four walls. In a normal situation, a 6, BTU would suffice. You can check out the LG unit in our list of the best thru-the-wall AC unit.

The master bedroom is on the 2nd floor, sf, including the bathroom. That area is about or sf, with many windows and a cathedral ceiling in the living room up to 25 feet or more. Any advice? Anything we need to be aware of for electrical systems? Or single vs dual hose units? Thanks for your help! Hello M, nice plan. Your calculations for the master bedroom with bathroom and another bedroom sound about right. The cathedral ceiling open concept area is fun indeed.

For that you would need somewhere between 40, and 50, BTU; depending on insulation, sun exposure, and so on. Obviously, dual hose units are better higher efficiency, lower long-term costs; based on EER rating. That just might be sufficient given your in the northeast US; your calculations are again on point. You might want to check out our article about the best dual hose portable air conditioner here ; you will find very efficient 12, BTU and 14, BTU units with a very good reputation.

Overall, you do have a remarkably good eye for these BTU calculations and the general layout of portable AC units. Cool DIY mini split configurations. My home is years old, 8ft ceilings, mostly shaded except along the south facing side, located in Los Angeles. Dining area and kitchen along the sunny south wall. The 3 bedrooms, bathrooms and hall can be closed off by a door.

Will a solo mini split unit in the center master cool the 2 side bedrooms at all? An alternative option is the 27k 22 SEER 3 zone unit, with a 9k handler for each bedroom, likewise seems more than suggested for the per room sizes but is the lowest btu multi 3 zone unit.

But it is true the home has no insulation and long thin glassed windows, perhaps higher btu are needed. What would you suggest? Hello Deborah, that was quite a read. Two indoor units here are minimum; a 3-zone mini-split would be the most optimum option.

You can check the best three-zone mini-split systems here ; Senville units, for example, are both cheap and highly efficient. Total BTU output of 36k seems to be a good estimation. Having 3-zone mini split, or even 3 individual 12, BTU Mr. This could mean cooling the air in the hot weather or heating the air in colder temperatures. It could mean reducing humidity levels.

Or in more pleasant weather conditions, simply exchanging the inside air with fresh, outdoor air. That is, how much energy to make the indoor air temperature more comfortable. There are several online resources with estimated BTU calculators. The first technique is to simply figure the square footage of the space you want to heat.

In warmer climates, multiply this number by 10 - In more moderate climates, multiply by 20 - And in cold climates multiply the square foot number by 30 - This chart is based on a ceiling height of 9 feet or less. This is not exclusive to portable AC units, either. The same goes for all AC units, including the popular window and central air conditioners as well. Using a portable air conditioner with not enough recommended BTUs will keep you from reaching your desired comfort level. The heat load will be too much for your unit to handle.

This will cause your AC unit to run continuously and never reach your set temperature level. Not to mention shorten its lifespan. This is why it is important to pay attention to square footage recommendations per the each air conditioner you considering of buying.

As well as have a pretty good idea of the square footage of the space you are intending to use the AC unit in. We would recommend using our BTU cooling calculator to determine the specific amount of BTUs you will need from your air conditioner in order to properly cool your space. However, below we have listed some general BTU recommendations that will help get you started.

This is due to the added ambient heat added due to the environment. This may mean going up to the next available cooling power. If there is going to be more than two people in the area at a time, you should add approximately BTUs per additional person. If you plan on using your air conditioner in your kitchen, or any area of your home where your appliances will likely generate higher levels of heat, you will need to add 4, BTUs to the recommended cooling power.

Lastly, you want to consider whether or not your space is open or confined. Our square footage recommendations are meant for confined areas, so if your room open ups into another space without the option of closing a door, you will want to add in that other space. For example, if you want to cool a kitchen that opens into a living room, you will want to combine the size of those two rooms as if they were one space and use that as your determinate square footage.

For help calculating the right BTU for your needs, feel free to give our portable air conditioner experts a call at 1. Kara Zorn is a wife and working mom who loves life hacks that help her schedule allow for as much quality family time as possible. She enjoys cooking with locally sourced food and produce and recently took up brewing Kombucha. How big of an air conditioner would I need to cool a house with 5 bedrooms a kitchen and dining room and how can you tell if its a or a unit.