What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need For My House?
Rainier Heating & Cooling, LLC • October 24, 2025

As each home is different in size, it is vital to select the size of your air conditioner carefully that will best match your home’s size. While there are many factors to consider, such as the type of insulation your home has, the size and number of windows it has, etc., what really matters is the size of your home. If you are looking for a residential HVAC in Tacoma, choose its size wisely to obtain the best performance.

Size Matters - At Least When Choosing Your AC

The one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t always work, especially when it comes to choosing an air conditioner for your home. You need an AC that has the capacity to provide sufficient cooling, and for that, you need to choose one that is compatible with the size of your house. Otherwise, you may face problems ranging from efficiency issues to malfunctioning.

If you get an HVAC system, for example, that is too small for your big house, it will need to run for more time to reduce the temperature inside your home. In some cases, it might fail to maintain the required level of cooling.

On the other hand, if you get an AC larger than required for the size of your home, it will quickly fill the place with cool air. As a result, it will shift to standby mode too early. With frequent shifts between on and off, it may lose efficiency and sometimes result in damaged components that may require AC repair in Auburn.

Considering the importance of choosing the right size, here’s how you can measure the size of HVAC you need for your house.

How to Measure the Size of AC for Your Home?

British Thermal Units (BTU), which is a unit of measurement for heat, is used to measure the size of an air conditioner. The number of BTUs an air conditioner produces per hour is its cooling capacity. For example: a 1-ton AC can remove 12,000 BTU each hour, a 2-ton AC can remove 24,000 BTU each hour. The starting range of residential air conditioners is 1.5 tons, which goes up by an increment of half a ton – 2, 2.5, 3 tons, etc. Your home, most likely, would not need an AC with a capacity of more than 5 tons. Let’s now calculate the AC size requirements per your home’s size. You may determine an estimated capacity you need according to the covered area of your home in square feet. For instance – 1 ton for 750-1000 square feet; quite similarly, 2 tons for 1500 – 2000 square feet.

Need Help in Choosing the Right-fit AC for Your House?

Our air conditioning experts can help you choose the most suitable HVAC for your house, install it perfectly, and with professional service when it comes to quality air conditioner maintenance in Puyallup. So, call the best HVAC contractor in your area; dial (253) 600-2758 now!

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