The size AC unit that you need for a 2000 square feet will depend on a few factors, but it should be 2.5 to 3.5 ton.
The British Thermal Unit (BTU) is used by air conditioner (AC) manufacturers to measure the cooling capacity of units.
This can help you determine which air conditioner is right for which space, based on its cooling capacity. A 2000 square foot space may need an air conditioner of between 34 000 and 40 000 BTU, but there are a range of factors that can affect this.
What is BTU and why does it matter?
If you have been shopping around for an air conditioner for your home, office, or any other space, you will have noticed that manufacturers include a BTU for their air conditioner models.
BTU was initially used to measure how much heat it takes to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one-degree Fahrenheit.
However, this unit has now been adopted by air conditioner manufacturers to measure how effective air conditioners are at removing heat from a space. Therefore, BTU gives you an idea of the capacity that an air conditioner has to cool down a space.
What size AC unit for 2000 square feet?
It is important that your air conditioner has the suitable capacity in relation to the space that you want to use it in.
Since the capacity of an air conditioner is measured in BTU, there are general guidelines and more specific manufacturers’ guidelines that will help you understand which capacity air conditioner is needed for which space.
In general, the BTU needed for air conditioners used in a 2000 to 2500 square foot space is about 34000, according to most manufacturer guidelines, but the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) states that a good rule of thumb is to calculate that you need at least 20 BTU for every square foot of space.
This means that you will need an air conditioner with at least 40000 BTU for a 2000 square feet space. Therefore, you can estimate that you will need a 34000 (2.5 ton) to 40000 (just over 3 ton) air conditioner for a 2000 square foot space.
Finding an air conditioner that is right for a 2000 square foot space can be complicated since this number falls between two major sizes.
However, it is important that you try to find the right size for your specific space, as oversizing or under-sizing the BTU of your air conditioner can have negative consequences in the long term.
In order to help you decide whether you need the larger 3 ton and above, or the 2.5 ton unit, there are a few factors about your space that you need to consider and which will guide you in the right direction.
Why oversized and undersized air conditioners have negative consequences
It is crucial that you follow the manufacturer guidelines for the capacity of your air conditioner or match it as closely to the appropriate size and capacity for your space as possible.
This is because an air conditioner that is too small for your 2000 square foot space will simply not have the capacity to cool down the air in the space effectively and your space may never get down to your desired temperature.
On the other hand, a unit that is too powerful for a 2000 square foot space will cool down the space too quickly and this could cause it to short cycle and be less energy-efficient than intended.
Factors inside the space to consider for air conditioner capacity
Some of the factors in your space that may influence whether you need an air conditioner with a higher or lower capacity in the space that you are trying to cool, and they will have a direct impact on the amount of hot air in the space, which will have to be removed by the air conditioner.
Some of the factors that will cause you to have to find an air conditioner with a higher capacity for your 2000 square foot space include:
- Lots of people in the space
- Lots of other appliances in the space
- Ceilings above the standard nine foot ceilings
Factors outside the space to consider for air conditioner capacity
There are also factors that influence how much cooling capacity your air conditioner needs, even though they may not be in the same space that you are trying to cool.
Some of the factors that will result in you needing a higher capacity air conditioner include having a poorly insulated space and a high amount of sun exposure, high heat climate, or high humidity levels in your area.