What size AC do I need for a 2000 sq ft house? A 2000 sq ft house generally requires a 3 to 3.5 ton AC unit (36,000 to 42,000 BTUs) to cool your home's space effectively.
The typical 2,000-square-foot home will need a central AC unit that is around 3 tons or 36,000 BTU. The larger an AC system is, the more it will cost.
Larger unit may be more efficient (larger condensers generally are), but make sure you don't oversize it. If the unit is oversized it'll cycle more frequently, which is hard on it. Oversized can also cause some issues with humidity if you have any outside air connections.
The average cost of installing a new central air conditioner in 2024, including equipment and labor costs, is $5,750 for a 3-ton unit in a 2,000-square-foot home. On average, a new AC unit cost will fall between $3,300 and $7,800.
However, the truth is an oversized system will not do a better job of cooling the house or provide any extra comfort over a properly sized unit. Air conditioner size is calculated in BTU (British Thermal Units) and tons, and measures how much heat the system can remove from the home in one hour.
Since an oversized AC is too powerful for your home, it will quickly cool your home then shut off, which can raise your energy bills and wear out your AC (from all the starts and stops).
An undersized HVAC system can lead to various problems, including short cycling, inability to reach the desired temperature, high energy bills, and increased humidity levels.
An oversized AC system can be just as bad for your home as having one that isn't big enough. You may think a larger unit means your home cools quicker or could save you money on electric bills. Unfortunately, neither is true, and it can cost you more in the long run.
HVAC Pro Cost
Most people pay $500 to $2,500 in labor for AC replacement.
3 tons: 1501-1800 sq. ft. 3.5 tons: 1801-2100 sq. ft.
According to PG&E, most central air conditioning systems use two to four pounds of refrigerant per ton of cooling capacity. A three-ton air conditioner would typically have six to 12 pounds of refrigerant for a proper charge.
For a 2000 sq ft house, you generally need an air conditioner with a capacity of about 36,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units), which is equivalent to a 3-ton unit. However, this is a rough estimate and the exact size can vary based on factors like insulation quality, window sizes, ceiling height, and local climate.
Every air conditioner ton can efficiently cool around 500 square feet of a home. Depending on the system's model, this estimated square footage can be slightly more. This being said, a 3-ton AC system is a reasonably sized unit for a 2,000-square-foot home.
Neither oversizing nor undersizing your AC unit is ideal. Both scenarios can lead to issues with efficiency, comfort, and longevity of the system. Oversizing: If your AC unit is too large for your home, it will cycle on and off frequently, leading to inefficient operation and increased energy bills.
There are several reasons this can happen, such as improper thermostat placement, newer addition to the home, slab construction, or not enough supply and return vents. It is also common to have trouble spots if you have two stories, a finished basement, or an open floor plan.
The idea that more is always better does not apply to air conditioning systems. In fact, having too much refrigerant in a cooling system can be just as detrimental as having too little. This is because an overcharged system puts extra strain on the equipment, ultimately leading to damage and a shorter lifespan.
How much value does a new HVAC unit add to your home? A new HVAC unit typically adds about $2,500 to $3,000 to the value of your home or about 5% to 7% of your home's value. Since a new unit can cost up to or more than $10,000 to install, it's up to you to decide if the upfront cost is worth the added value.
Higher Utility Bills
A bigger unit simply gobbles more power than a smaller one. To make matters worse, your oversized air conditioner will likely never reach its promised level of energy efficiency. Just as it is cycling up to its most efficient level, the thermostat will tell it to shut off again.
If your AC is running but not cooling, it could be due to a dirty air filter, incorrect thermostat settings, a malfunctioning thermostat, a refrigerant leak, dirty condenser coils, blocked vents or ducts, a faulty compressor, frozen evaporator coils, or electrical issues.
What size ductwork do I need for a 3-ton unit? 1 ton of cooling is equal to 400 CFM approximately. Therefore, the total area of all the grills must be equal to a minimum of 600 square inches for adequate air supply to the system.