With the intense heat in many parts of the country, people are struggling to stay cool. This leads many to purchase coolers, fans, and air conditioners (AC).
If you’re planning to buy an AC, it’s important to understand the term “ton” used in air conditioners. Knowing what this means will make it easier to choose the right AC for your home.
Many people think that the term “ton” refers to the weight of the AC, but that’s not true. In fact, ton is a unit that measures the cooling capacity of the AC.
The cooling capacity is measured in British Thermal Units (BTU) per hour, commonly expressed as BTU/hour.
The BTU for air conditioners ranges from 5,000 to 24,000 BTUs, and 12,000 BTUs is equivalent to 1 ton.
What Does ‘Ton’ Mean in ACs?
In simple terms, ‘ton’ in air conditioning refers to the amount of heat the AC can remove from a room in one hour.
The higher the tonnage, the more cooling the AC can provide. For example, a 1-ton AC can cool a room as much as 1 ton of ice.
A 2-ton AC can cool as much as 2 tons of ice. So, if you have a larger room, you’ll need a higher tonnage AC for better cooling, and for smaller rooms, a lower tonnage AC will work fine.
How to Choose the Right Tonnage for Your Room
Here’s a quick guide on the required tonnage for different room sizes:
Up to 150 sq. ft. – 1-ton AC
150-250 sq. ft. – 1.5-ton AC
250-400 sq. ft. – 2-ton AC
400-600 sq. ft. – 3-ton AC
600-800 sq. ft. – 4-ton AC
For the best cooling, choose an AC based on the size of your room. If the room is larger, go for a higher tonnage to ensure proper cooling.
