Refrigerated Air Conditioning Experts Weigh In On BTUs

As a refrigerated air conditioning system expert, we recommend learning more about cooling systems. For example, when looking for an evaporative cooler (also known as a swamp cooler), you may come across the acronym BTU in the product’s description and name. This acronym stands for British Thermal Unit and it is a useful guideline in helping you understand how useful an evaporative cooler is in providing refrigerated air.

Refrigerated Air Conditioning Experts Weigh In On BTUs

Anderson Air Corps, HVAC installation specialist, explains what you need to know about BTUs.

What Is a BTU and Why Does It Matter for an Evaporative Air Cooler?

Like refrigerated air conditioners, you can use certain ratings to evaluate a swamp cooler. The British Thermal Unit is a unit used to measure thermal energy. The BTU is the amount of energy necessary to heat one pound of water one degree at sea level. For an evaporative cooler, this measurement is used to indicate how many BTUs per hour the device can remove or add from the air. You need to pay careful attention to the number of BTUs of your product because you need a cooler with just the right amount of BTUs.

The Importance of Choosing an Evaporative Air Cooler With the Right BTUs

We recommend studying BTU numbers closely. An evaporative cooler with not enough recommended BTUs for the room you plan to cool will not be able to keep the room comfortable; the heat load will be too much. This causes the unit to work harder and consume more energy even though it simply can’t reach the room’s desired temperature level. This also causes the cooler’s life span to decrease. Pay attention to the square footage recommendations when choosing your evaporative air cooler.

On the other hand, overly high BTUs can also be a problem. An evaporative cooler with an excessive BTU level can cool your room too quickly and then cycle off. To maintain your room’s temperature, it then cycles on again but turns off again immediately after. This cycle can over-work the system and shorten the unit’s life span. It’s important to consult with an HVAC professional to find the right amount of BTUs for your needs.

The Right Company for You: Anderson Air Corps

Apart from the BTU, you have to account for several factors when choosing an evaporative air cooler. Consider asking for the help of a professional HVAC installation company like Anderson Air Corps for best results. We have served local homeowners and business owners for over 50 years and we are an expert in evaporative cooler repair, air conditioning installation, furnace installation, and more.

Contact us here or call us at (505) 855-9028 to learn more about BTUs and all things cooling.