Aircon BTU Guide Singapore Calculation - Silverback Air-con

Maybe your like

Login on site

Username

Password

Remember Me

Remind the password

× Login on site

Aircon Installation Aircon BTU Guide Singapore Calculation April 28, 2020 by silverbackaircon 0 Comments 29912 Views Home » Aircon Installation » Aircon BTU Guide Singapore Calculation Prev

0 how to know if your aircon pipe can be reused? 28 April 2020 Next 0 The complete guide to aircon gas top up price in Singapore 29 April 2020

April 28, 2020 by silverbackaircon in Aircon Installation

What is Aircon BTU?

A well-put aircon BTU guide is incredibly helpful to people who are installing air conditioners in their homes for the first time. And, if this is your first time buying an air conditioning unit, you will be bombarded with foreign terms like 9000 BTU + 18000 BTU. BTU stands for British thermal unit, which is the amount of energy needed to either heat up or cool one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. So, if you turn on the aircon inside the room without closing the door, chances are, your house will not be cooled at all. Why? This is because you have insufficient BTU to cool the whole house due to the increase in space. Put simply, the bigger the room, the more BTU you will need to cool the area.

A BTU is a measure of an air conditioner’s cooling capacity, and selecting the right BTU is crucial for efficient cooling performance. This article covers in detail several factors that influence the required BTU for your space, as well as guide you in selecting the correct aircon capacity.

If you encounter difficulties in aircon BTU calculation,

CONTACT US NOW

WHATSAPP USCALL US

What are the factors that affect aircon BTU?

Heat travels from hot to cold places. Hence, a room with other heat sources will no doubt require the aircon to work even harder. This means, you will require a higher BTU for a crowded room, which translates to multiple heat sources. On the other hand, if it is a commercial property with a lot of printing equipment, for example, the BTU level needed is much higher, as well. Aside from people as heat sources, you will have to consider external heat sources. So, if you have a window facing the eastern or western directions, that room may need more BTU than usual. This is because the sunlight will heat up the room during certain times of the day, depending on where your window is facing. Even if you install curtains, the sun could still heat up the wall, causing your room to be stuffy and hot. This is especially true for HDB flats or condominium units on the top floor levels, where the sun shines directly against the ceiling. Meanwhile, here’s a rundown of the factors that influence an air conditioner’s cooling capacity or BTU:

Room Size Larger rooms require higher BTU to cool effectively, while smaller spaces need lower BTU. For example, a 150 sq. ft. room may need 5,000 BTU, whereas a 500 sq. ft. area could require 12,000 BTU or more.

Ceiling Height Rooms with high ceilings have more air volume, demanding higher BTU to maintain consistent cooling.

Insulation and Room Layout Well-insulated spaces retain cool air better, reducing the required BTU. Conversely, poor insulation or open layouts may need higher BTU to compensate for air leakage.

Number of Occupants Each person generates body heat, increasing the cooling load. For instance, add 600 BTU per person beyond the base calculation.

Heat-Generating Appliances Rooms with electronics, lighting, or kitchen appliances produce additional heat, requiring higher BTU to offset the thermal load.

Sunlight Exposure Spaces with direct sunlight or large windows absorb more heat, necessitating higher BTU for effective cooling.

Climate and Humidity Levels Hotter or more humid climates require higher BTU to achieve comfortable indoor temperatures and manage moisture levels.

Room Function High-activity areas like gyms or kitchens may need higher BTU compared to low-activity spaces like bedrooms or offices.

By considering these factors, you can determine the appropriate BTU for your aircon, ensuring optimal cooling efficiency and comfort. Consulting a professional can also help tailor the BTU to your specific needs.

Is excess BTU a good thing?

Your aircon in the room cannot cool the whole house because it doesn’t have enough BTU. However, can the air conditioner in the living room (a relatively wider area that requires an aircon with a higher cooling capacity) be used to cool your room then? The answer is yes. But is it good for you? It definitely isn’t. A BTU that is much higher than is required for the space will cause the room to cool too quickly, cycle off, then cycle back on in order to maintain the lower temperature. This is known as short cycling. And this can cause the aircon compressor to overwork quickly, resulting in more wear and tear. It will also definitely increase your electrical bills as well, even if you are using an inverter aircon.

Will my room be cooled if my aircon BTU is insufficient?

You will, of course, still feel a cool breeze in your room. And depending on the time of day, it could still be cold. However, on very hot days, this will not hold true. In addition, it’s not just a matter of whether your room will be cooled. If your aircon BTU is insufficient, it will cause the compressor to keep running, as the thermistor will indicate that it’s not sufficiently cooled yet. This will cause huge wastage in your air conditioner’s electricity consumption and cause insanely high electricity bills. Hence, it will be better if you err on the side of caution and choose higher BTU.

FACING THESE AIRCON PROBLEMS?

Click to find out more

Air-conditioning Temperature Issues?

Aircon Water Leak?

Automatically Turning On/Off Aircon Unit?

Aircon Error Code Problem?

BTU Calculation

For aircon installation, calculate aircon BTU will be the most important step as the right BTU can allow you to find the suitable aircon options to cool your room. For HDB units, it is pretty straightforward. You can simply follow these pointers here for a rough estimation on the amount of BTU required:

Room / Flat Type	Recommended BTU
Normal Room	6500 BTU
Master Bedroom	9000 BTU
Living Room – 2 / 3 Room Flat	12000 BTU
4 Room Flat	18000 BTU
5 Room Flat	21000 BTU (Only Daikin) or 24000 BTU

There are anomaly whereby some areas in Singapore has bigger room or living. For example. some of the 4-Room Flat in Tampines have large living rooms that may require more BTU to cool the room. Hence, to be safe, you can also calculate the amount of BTU required on your own, taking your floor plan into consideration.

Two ways to calculate BTU for your aircon

Method 1

Take the area of the room (in sq ft) that you wish to install the aircon at, and simply multiply by around 50-60. You will get the BTU you need. Size of an average HDB room is 130 square feet. There’s no definite thumb of rule to follow, saying which number you should multiply by, but the range given is 50-60. So to gauge, you can see if you have encounter these scenarios:

Multiple Electrical Appliances within the room
Internal/External Heat Sources
Direction of Sun, depends on where your room is facing towards
Ceiling Height (High Ceiling will require more BTU)

If you have encountered all scenarios, then you should multiply by 60. Otherwise, you can just multiply by 50 if you didn’t encounter any of these scenarios.

Method 2

Get the area of the room (in sq metres) that you wish to install the aircon at, and simply divide by 5. You will get the the cooling capacity in Kilowatt (KW). Following which, to convert Kilowatt into BTU required, take that result and multiply it by 3412.

If you have been measuring your house based on square meter, you can simply take that area and divide by 5. However, the cooling capacity that you will get is in terms of KILOWATT (KW). To convert kilowatt into BTU, multiply the result by 3412.

Will the BTU calculation be accurate?

The method is referenced from Singapore’s Energy Efficient website. However, as described in earlier paragraphs, you will have to take note of the internal and external heat source generated from your room. Other than heat source, you will also have to take into account the height of the room. Furthermore, do note that the calculations we have provided only helps to calculate your required BTU base on square feet. So for warehouse or places with high ceiling, you will have to get higher BTU too. We would personally advise you to contact us at +65 9177 5500 to book a free site visit with us so we can assist you in better diagnose your aircon needs. Besides advising you on BTU, we will recommend specific brands and systems for you too. Alternatively, you can click on the button below and it will direct you to our WhatsApp directly.

How To Quickly Estimate Aircon BTU Requirements for an HDB Flat

Getting the correct air conditioner BTU for your HDB flat is essential for maintaining long-term comfort and energy efficiency. One of the most critical factors to consider is the BTU rating, which measures the cooling capacity of an aircon unit. Selecting an aircon with the appropriate BTU ensures optimal performance without overworking the system or wasting energy. Here’s a simple guide to help you estimate the BTU requirements for your HDB flat:

Step 1: Measure Your Room Size Start by measuring the size of the room where the aircon will be installed. Multiply the length and width of the room (in feet) to determine the square footage. For example, a room that is 10 feet by 12 feet has an area of 120 square feet.

Step 2: Use the Basic BTU Calculation As a general rule of thumb, you’ll need approximately 20 BTUs per square foot of living space. Using the example above: 120 square feet x 20 BTUs = 2,400 BTUs. This means a 2,400 BTU aircon would be suitable for a 120-square-foot room.

Step 3: Adjust for Specific Room Conditions While the basic calculation provides a good starting point, certain factors can influence your BTU requirements. Adjust your estimate based on the following:

Sunlight Exposure: If the room receives a lot of direct sunlight, increase the BTU capacity by 10%. For example, 2,400 BTUs + 10% = 2,640 BTUs.
Number of Occupants: Add 600 BTUs for each additional person regularly in the room. For a room with two people, add 600 BTUs to the base calculation.
Kitchen or High Heat Areas: For kitchens or rooms with heat-generating appliances, increase the BTU capacity by 4,000 BTUs to account for the extra heat.

Step 4: Match BTU to Aircon Capacity Once you’ve calculated the required BTUs, match it to the appropriate aircon capacity:

9,000 BTUs: Suitable for small rooms up to 400 square feet (e.g., bedrooms or study rooms).
12,000 BTUs: Ideal for medium-sized rooms up to 550 square feet (e.g., living rooms or master bedrooms).
18,000 BTUs or higher: Best for larger spaces or open-concept areas.

Step 5: Consult a Professional While this guide provides a straightforward method for estimating BTU requirements, every HDB flat is unique. Factors like ceiling height, insulation, and airflow can affect cooling needs. For a more accurate assessment, consult with a professional aircon service provider like Silverback Aircon. Our experts can evaluate your space and recommend the ideal aircon unit for your specific requirements.

By following these steps, you can easily estimate the BTU requirements for your HDB flat and ensure your aircon delivers efficient and effective cooling. For more personalized advice or installation services, feel free to talk to a Silverback Aircon specialist.

OUR TESTIMONIALS

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH US

Conclusion

It is very labor intensive, as well as expensive, to install an air conditioner, especially in commercial spaces. So if it doesn’t fulfill your cooling requirements due to incorrect aircon BTU calculation, you might have to change the entire air conditioning system. Hence, it is better to get this accurately right from the start. You will have to take into consideration other factors like crowd level, direction of the sun, internal/external heat sources and ceiling height. If you are still unsure of the BTU required for your place, you might want to contact us at +65 9177 5500. We will be more than happy assist in aircon-related enquiries.

Click to find out our

AIRCON PROMOTION

DAIKIN

MIDEA

PANASONIC

MITSUBISHI

Here at Silverback Aircon, our friendly staff and technicians provide you with the most efficient service for the best price. Besides Aircon Installation, we also perform repair works and services. All of our Aircon spare parts are tested, refurbished and commissioned before selling it to you so you can trust us with all your aircon needs! Furthermore, if you are still unsure about how much BTU you need, call us for free over-the-phone consultation or even book a site visit appointment with us! We will be glad to offer you any assistance you need.