What is tonnage in air conditioning and why is tonnage important

When it comes to air conditioners, we often see terms like tonnage floating around, without realising what a 1-ton AC or a 1.5-ton AC actually signifies. Today, we’ll be looking at what exactly AC tonnage is and how it can affect everything from your AC’s functioning to your energy bills.

What is a ‘ton’ when it comes to air conditioners?

Unlike the more common meaning of the term, air conditioner tonnage has nothing to do with weight. Instead, it is a value assigned to ACs and other personal and industrial cooling appliances that define the cooling power of the said appliance.

In scientific terms, one ton of cooling refers to the amount of cooling that can move 12,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units) of air in an hour. A 1-ton AC will cool 12,000 BTUs of air, while a 2-ton AC will cool 24,000 BTUs of air and so on. The higher the tonnage, the more air the AC can cool in the same amount of time.

Why is AC tonnage important?

The tonnage of an air conditioner plays a vital role in how well and effectively it will cool a space. ACs are available in a variety of tonnage – from under 1 ton, 1 ton, 1.5 ton, 2 ton, and above ton. Some brands even offer models with 1.8 tonnage.

While some believe that the more tonnage of an AC, the better, it isn’t true. Getting an overpowered AC for your bedroom may lead to energy wastage and higher energy bills. On the other hand, getting an AC that is underpowered for your living room, for instance, will result in unsatisfactory cooling.

Choosing the right tonnage for your home

When it comes to choosing the right AC for you, getting the tonnage right for the room you are going to be using the AC in is important. Choosing the right tonnage can be easier with a few calculations. There are plenty of AC tonnage calculators online that you can use. The basic factor taken into consideration is usually the size of the room the AC has to cool. Some calculators also take into account factors like the number of people usually in it, the height of the room, and the number of windows and doors.

Why getting the correct tonnage is important

If you’re using a lower-powered AC like a 1-ton AC in a large living room that may require a 1.5-ton AC, you will feel the cooling is insufficient or not as quick as you’d like. This could result in you using higher fan speeds or lower temperatures to compensate, and this could result in a higher energy bill.

On the other hand, if you’re using a large 1.5-ton AC in a small bedroom or other areas, you could be using more power than required and hence, would be wasting energy. This is why the correct tonnage is important, as both underpowered and overpowered ACs could mean more wasted money in the long run.