Where to Place a 4000 BTU Air Conditioner

A room air conditioner with a higher BTU rating than is necessary for a particular space will cycle off and on too frequently and may not adequately dehumidify the space. Look for a model with high seasonally adjusted cooling capacity (SACC).

Many factors affect BTU sizing. For example, kitchens and laundry rooms usually have heat-generating appliances that require extra BTUs to cool properly.

Ceiling

To determine how many BTUs an air conditioner needs to properly cool a room, calculate the square footage of the space by multiplying its length and width. Then, divide the result by 25 to get its cooling capacity in BTUs per hour.

Other factors can also affect the necessary AC size. Shaded rooms typically require less power than sunny ones. If the room is heavily shaded, ENERGY STAR recommends reducing the recommended cooling capacity by 10%. Similarly, the required cooling power increases by 10% if the room receives direct sunlight throughout the day. If more than two people regularly occupy the room, add 600 BTUs per additional person to the basic capacity.

Insulation reduces the amount of heat that enters and escapes a home, which helps keep the AC working at peak efficiency. Sealing drafts also reduces energy consumption and lowers hourly costs.

Wall

Using the recommended AC sizing chart, you can find the right size air conditioner for your space. This chart calculates cooling capacity in BTUs and tonnage, which is the amount of heat the AC removes from the home in one hour.

Safe figures are also provided for common room conditions. For example, if direct sunlight falls on the room during most of the day, you may need to increase the rated cooling power by 10%. Similarly, if more than two people will occupy the room regularly, Energy Star recommends adding 600 BTU per person to your requirement.

Good insulation reduces the amount of heat that enters or escapes your home, decreasing workload on your air conditioner and lowering hourly costs. Sealing drafts can also help to lower costs by preventing the heating and cooling from being wasted. In addition to these cost-saving measures, many of our ENERGY STAR qualified portable air conditioners feature Smart Grid ready technology, which allows you to take advantage of electricity bill savings programs offered by your local utility.

Floor

It’s important to make sure you select an air conditioner with a SEER rating of at least 14. SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, measures how efficiently a portable AC uses electricity.

A lower SEER rating, which means a less efficient unit, will use more energy to operate and may produce more heat and moisture in your home.

The general rule of thumb for determining an AC’s size is the room’s square footage, multiplied by 25. This will give you the minimum cooling capacity required. It’s also recommended to add 600 BTUs per person who will regularly occupy the room. A higher cooling capacity won’t necessarily mean a cooler, more comfortable space if it’s too large for a given room’s needs. The more energy a unit uses, the more it will cost to operate.

Window

Many window air conditioners are designed to fit into standard double-hung windows and can also be installed into custom-created wall spaces using special mounting hardware. This makes them a great option if you don’t have a suitable window or don’t want to change your home’s exterior architecture.

The cooling capacity of window air conditioners is often advertised in BTU per hour, or “tons,” with one ton equaling 12,000 BTUs. To determine what size unit you need, first calculate the room’s square footage in feet. Then look at the chart below to find the recommended BTUs for your space.

Keep in mind that these figures are safe estimates only. Capacity requirements may vary based on environmental factors. For example, if the room is mostly shaded throughout the day, decrease the suggested BTUs by 10%. And if more than two people regularly occupy the space, add 600 BTUs per additional person. You can also reduce energy costs by insulating your home and sealing drafts.