One way in which we can differentiate air conditioners from each other is by referring to their BTUs. There’s a good chance that you’ve seen this term being used before if you’ve been shopping for ACs, and you may be wondering exactly what it means.
Defining “BTU”
BTU stands for “British thermal units.” It’s a unit that can be used to measure thermal energy, or, in other words, heat. One BTU is how much energy you’d need to increase 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit, at sea level. When we discuss BTUs in relation to air conditioners, we’re talking about how much energy the unit can add, or remove, from the air. A unit with more BTUs will be more powerful, and it will be able to remove heat from the room at a quicker pace.
Are More BTUs Always Better?
More BTUs are not always better. If you have a small room and a high-powered air conditioner, it’s not going to make sense to get an AC with high BTUs. First of all, having more BTUs generally means that the unit will be more expensive, and you don’t want to pay for something you don’t need.
Another point is that the high-powered AC will get its job done very quickly and then cycle off. It will then have to cycle back on and off again frequently in order to maintain your desired temperature. This amount of cycling isn’t great for an AC unit, and it can shorter its lifespan.
On the other hand, if you have an AC unit that doesn’t have enough power, it will run continuously. Even when it works as hard as it can, it might not be able to adequately handle the task. This isn’t a good thing either.
Find the Right Unit and the Right Team
At David White Services in Lancaster, OH, we help customers install AC units that are appropriate for their homes. We also offer AC maintenance and repair services, duct cleaning, and indoor air quality solutions. Give us a call today for more information.
