Why Aircon Unit Size Matters: A Guide to Efficient Cooling

Singapore is a beautiful place to live but its tropical climate can often pose hot and humid challenges. To combat this, choosing the right aircon unit size for your home is essential to ensure energy efficiency and proper cooling throughout your house. This guide explores the importance of proper aircon sizing, the consequences of choosing the wrong size, and how to determine the perfect fit for your home.

Why Aircon Unit Size Matters

What most people don’t realise is that the size of their aircon directly affects its performance and efficiency. Installing a properly sized unit not only cools the space but also saves a lot on electricity bills. Whether it’s a big unit or a small one, having an aircon that doesn’t match your space needs will cause inconsistent performance, higher power consumption, and demand frequent repairs. Therefore, choosing the right aircon unit size will keep your home cool while keeping operational costs at a minimum.

The Drawbacks of an Oversized Aircon Unit

Many think that a larger aircon unit would provide faster cooling, but this is not always the case. A large air conditioning unit might cause short cycling, in which the system repeatedly goes on and off. This issue results in:

• Uneven Cooling: Temperature inconsistencies can occur in many areas, with some areas feeling too cool while others remain uncomfortably warm.
• Higher Energy Bills: Frequent cycling of the aircon unit can lead to increased energy consumption. This pattern can also diminish the efficiency of even energy-efficient air conditioning systems.
• Faster Wear and Tear: If the unit is always cycling on and off, it wears out faster, leading to the need to frequently seek out aircon repair service or even potential replacements later on.
• Poor Humidity Control: When an aircon unit cools the air too rapidly, it may not effectively remove moisture from the environment. This can lead to uncomfortable indoor humidity levels.

The Challenges of an Undersized Aircon Unit

An aircon that is too small for your room will struggle to meet your cooling needs, often running without reaching the needed temperature. Improper aircon unit size can lead to:

• Inefficient Cooling: Even when operating at maximum capacity, the aircon unit may struggle to maintain the desired room temperature, resulting in discomfort.
• Increased Energy Consumption: Extended use of the aircon system can significantly elevate electricity costs, impacting your energy bills over time.
• Overheating and Breakdowns:Continuous operation places excessive strain on the unit, raising the risk of overheating and potential breakdowns, which can lead to expensive repair services.

How to Calculate the Right Aircon Unit Size

When choosing the size of your aircon, consider factors such as room size, insulation, and local climate conditions. Aircons are rated in British Thermal Units (BTUs) to determine their cooling capacity, and are calculated through this method:

• Floor area (m²) / 5 = kW
• BTU = kW × 3412

Let’s say you are calculating for the living room in this floor plan below

Here’s how you would go about with the calculations:

• Living room dimensions: 4.267 m × 3.848 m = 16.419 m²
• Divide by 5: 16.419 / 5 = 3.284 kW
• Convert to BTU: 3.284 × 3412 = 11,205.008 BTU
• Thus, this living room would require 12,000 BTU for effective cooling.

However, it’s important to adjust the BTU if certain conditions in your room affect its cooling needs. For example:

• If the room receives afternoon sun, has a higher ceiling, or contains more heating equipment, you will need to increase the BTU accordingly.
• Human presence also contributes to the heat load. Each person adds about 500 BTU/hr.

For example, if 10 people will be in the living room, you should calculate:

• 12,000 BTU + (500 × 10) = 17,000 BTU.
• In this case, it is best to install an 18,000 BTU aircon unit to ensure the space remains cool and comfortable.

The Benefits of Proper Aircon Sizing

Install an aircon that matches your home needs, leading to multiple long-term benefits:

• Consistent Cooling: To achieve effective cooling throughout a room, it is essential to use properly sized units. This ensures an even temperature distribution, preventing hot or cold spots.
• Energy Efficiency: By optimising energy usage, homeowners can significantly lower their monthly electricity bills, making cooling systems more cost-effective.
• Extended Unit Lifespan: Reducing unnecessary strain on cooling units can extend their lifespan. This not only minimises maintenance needs but also lowers the frequency of replacements, leading to overall cost savings.
• Better Indoor Air Quality: Adequate cooling plays a crucial role in managing humidity levels, which contributes to a healthier living environment and enhances indoor air quality.

Conclusion

Choosing the right aircon unit size is key to creating a comfortable, energy-efficient living space. Whether you are replacing an existing system or installing one for the first time, selecting the proper size can make a significant impact on its performance, cost savings, and lifespan.

No matter what your unit size is, Airple can repair and service it easily. Contact Airple today for professional assistance and excellent aircon installation services. We ensure the perfect balance of comfort and efficiency in your home.