It's easy to answer how many square feet a 3-ton air conditioner can cool. According to the rule of thumb of 20 BTU per square foot, a 3-ton air conditioner can cool spaces of approximately 1,800 square feet. You can find the best central air conditioners with prices for 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 ton air conditioning units online. In temperate climates, 3 tons are usually enough to cool a 2,000 to 2,200 square foot home.
However, in hot climates with lots of sunlight, a 3-ton air conditioner may struggle to cool a house of this size. For a 1,201 to 1,500 square foot home, the recommended capacity is 2.5 tons. For a 1,501 to 1,800 house, the recommended capacity is 3 tons. For a 2,000-square-foot home, the best air conditioning capacity is 3.5 tons.
To cool a 3,000-square-foot home, you'll need a 5-ton unit. It's important to note that overworking the air conditioner can lead to more frequent repairs and require the replacement of expensive components. To get an accurate tonnage calculation for your home or business space, it's best to contact a professional HVAC company or fill out an online form for free quotes. In addition to the size of the space being cooled, other factors should be taken into consideration when selecting an air conditioner. For example, in gyms where people are engaging in physical activity and emitting more than 600 BTUs of heat energy, you may need a larger tonnage unit than what is recommended for the size of the space. Additionally, if you live in an area with higher elevations than sea level (such as Fort Worth, TX), you may need to select a unit with lower tonnage than what is recommended for the size of your home.
Ultimately, it's important to select an air conditioner that is not too large or too small for your space. If the tonnage of your air conditioner is too high for the size of the room or area you are cooling, it can create a number of problems. To ensure that your space is properly cooled and that your air conditioner runs efficiently and effectively for years to come, it's best to opt for a unit that is slightly larger than what is recommended for your space. When selecting an air conditioner, it's important to consider not only the size of the space being cooled but also other factors such as heat energy emitted by people engaging in physical activity in gyms or higher elevations than sea level. To get an accurate tonnage calculation for your home or business space and ensure that your air conditioner runs efficiently and effectively for years to come, it's best to contact a professional HVAC company or fill out an online form for free quotes.