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Ice used to illustrate the definition of 1 ton of cooling capacity (C) Carson Dunlop AssociatesTons of Cooling Capacity

Definition of Tons of Cooling, Tons translated to other measures

Cooling capacity expressed in Tons:

Definition of tons of cooling, and calculation of other cooling measures such as BTUs or Calories from Tons.

This article series defines Heat Loss, R-value, U-value, & K-Value measures of heating loss rate or insulation effectiveness and provides basic building insulation and heat loss guidelines.

Illustrations of melting ice and homes asking how much area can one tone cool were provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection, education, and report-writing firm.

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Definitions of Tons of Cooling Capacity

How much can one ton of cooling actually cool a building? (C) Carson Dunlop Associates

This article provides a table giving various equivalents of one ton of cooling capacity.

We provide several rules of thumb for translating "tons" of cooling into other measures.

[Click to enlarge any image]

To go directly to tables of required BTUh of cooling capacity for various climate zones, see COOLING CLIMATE ZONE BTU REQUIREMENTS.

Air Conditioner / Heat Pump Size & Capacity table

"One ton" of cooling capacity, historically, referred to the cooling capacity of a ton of ice.

Re-stated we can define one ton of cooling capacity as the amount of heat energy absorbed in the melting of one ton of ice over a 24-hour period.

One ton of cooling capacity is the same as 12,000 BTU's per hour of cooling capacity or 288,000 BTUs of cooling capacity provided over a period of 24 hours (12,000 x 24 hours = 288,000).

Table of Tons of Cooling Capacity Equivalents
Measurement Equivalent measurement / rule of thumb Comments
1 ton of cooling capacity 12,000 BTU's per hour  
1 ton of cooling capacity 288,000 BTUs of cooling capacity provided over a period of 24 hours  
1 ton of cooling capacity 1 hp or 1 horsepower compressor motor for occupied space (not refrigeration systems) rule of thumb
1 ton of cooling capacity 350 cfm air flow required for high-latent-heat HVAC applications rule of thumb
1 ton of cooling capacity 400 cfm air flow required in a conventional air conditioning system

AIR FLOW RATE TYPICAL CFM

rule of thumb
1 ton of cooling capacity 500 cfm air flow required for heat pumps and sensible heat designs rule of thumb
1 ton of cooling capacity 600 sq. ft. of conditioned floor area cooled for normal residential occupancy rule of thumb
1 tonne of refrigeration Rate of heat removal to freeze 1 metric tone of water (1000kg) at 0°C in 24-hours  
1 tonne of refrigeration 13,898 kJ/h or kilojoules per hour  
1 tonne of refrigeration 3.861 kW/h or kilowatts per hour  

Notes to the table above

To determine the cooling capacity of a specific air conditioner or heat pump,

see COOLING CAPACITY, RATED - How to Determine Air Conditioning Equipment Rated Cooling Capacity, How to determine the rated cooling capacity of an air conditioner.

Watch out: we have seen HVACR companies, technicians, articles, and websites giving the area that one ton of A/C cooling capacity can cool at numbers ranging from 80 sq.ft. to 600 sq.ft.

Some of this variation is doubtless due to climate variations: an air conditioning system in a sunny tropical area in a building with lots of windows needs more capacity than an air conditioner or heat pump coolign the same square foot area in a northern climate.

Typical Air Conditioner Capacity, Tons vs. Area

for CLIMATE ZONES for the U.S are given in a table

at COOLING CLIMATE ZONE BTU REQUIREMENTS

Other reasons for the wide range in the cooling capacity of a one-ton A/C or heat pump unit are probably "opinion" and still other reasons for the variation are differences in the rate of heat gain of individual buildings of different age, construction, orientation, insulation, air leakage, etc.

If you are looking for heating BTUh requirements

see HEATING CLIMATE ZONE BTU REQUIREMENTS

Also see DEGREE DAY HEATING DEGREE DAYS or COOLING DEGREE DAYS

Lots of electrical appliances include a label providing the appliance's wattage, and in the case of heating and air conditioning equipment, lots of other details are provided too.

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

  • Thanks to reader Peter J. Collins for discussing and helping clarify definitions of R U and K - August 2010
  • Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com 11/06
  • Roger Hankey is the retired principal of Hankey and Brown Inspections formerly of Eden Prairie, MN. Mr. Hankey is a past chairman of the ASHI Standards Committee and served in other ASHI chapter and national leadership roles. Mr. Hankey was a National Radon Proficiency Program certified measurement professional and is a Level II infrared thermographer and a consultant on cold climate housing and moisture intrusion.  Contact Roger Hankey at: 970-393-6604 - rogerhankey47@gmail.comMr. Hankey is a frequent contributor to InspectAPedia.com.
  • "Solar Heat Gain & Windows, the facts about", NFRC, National Fenestration Rating Council, January 2005, NFRC website: www.nfrc.org retrieved 12/4/2010, original source: http://www.nfrc.org/documents/SolarHeatGain.pdf.
  • Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
  • ASHRAE resources on building insulation, dew point and wall condensation - see the ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook, available in many libraries.
    • 2005 ASHRAE Handbook : Fundamentals: Inch-Pound Edition (2005 ASHRAE HANDBOOK : Fundamentals : I-P Edition) (Hardcover), Thomas H. Kuehn (Contributor), R. J. Couvillion (Contributor), John W. Coleman (Contributor), Narasipur Suryanarayana (Contributor), Zahid Ayub (Contributor), Robert Parsons (Author), ISBN-10: 1931862702 or ISBN-13: 978-1931862707
    • 2004 ASHRAE Handbook : Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning: Systems and Equipment : Inch-Pound Edition (2004 ASHRAE Handbook : HVAC Systems and Equipment : I-P Edition) (Hardcover)
      by American Society of Heating, ISBN-10: 1931862478 or ISBN-13: 978-1931862479
      "2004 ASHRAE Handbook - HVAC Systems and Equipment

      The 2004 ASHRAE HandbookHVAC Systems and Equipment discusses various common systems and the equipment (components or assemblies) that comprise them, and describes features and differences. This information helps system designers and operators in selecting and using equipment.

      Major sections include Air-Conditioning and Heating Systems (chapters on system analysis and selection, air distribution, in-room terminal systems, centralized and decentralized systems, heat pumps, panel heating and cooling, cogeneration and engine-driven systems, heat recovery, steam and hydronic systems, district systems, small forced-air systems, infrared radiant heating, and water heating);

      Air-Handling Equipment (chapters on duct construction, air distribution, fans, coils, evaporative air-coolers, humidifiers, mechanical and desiccant dehumidification, air cleaners, industrial gas cleaning and air pollution control); Heating Equipment (chapters on automatic fuel-burning equipment, boilers, furnaces, in-space heaters, chimneys and flue vent systems, unit heaters, makeup air units, radiators, and solar equipment);

      General Components (chapters on compressors, condensers, cooling towers, liquid coolers, liquid-chilling systems, centrifugal pumps, motors and drives, pipes and fittings, valves, heat exchangers, and energy recovery equipment); and Unitary Equipment (chapters on air conditioners and heat pumps, room air conditioners and packaged terminal equipment, and a new chapter on mechanical dehumidifiers and heat pipes)."
    • 1996 Ashrae Handbook Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems and Equipment: Inch-Pound Edition (Hardcover), ISBN-10: 1883413346 or ISBN-13: 978-1883413347 ,

      "The 1996 HVAC Systems and Equipment Handbook is the result of ASHRAE's continuing effort to update, expand and reorganize the Handbook Series. Over a third of the book has been revised and augmented with new chapters on hydronic heating and cooling systems design; fans; unit ventilator; unit heaters; and makeup air units.

      Extensive changes have been added to chapters on panel heating and cooling; cogeneration systems and engine and turbine drives; applied heat pump and heat recovery systems; humidifiers; desiccant dehumidification and pressure drying equipment, air-heating coils; chimney, gas vent, fireplace systems; cooling towers; centrifugal pumps; and air-to-air energy recovery. Separate I-P and SI editions."
    • Principles of Heating, Ventilating, And Air Conditioning: A textbook with Design Data Based on 2005 AShrae Handbook - Fundamentals (Hardcover), Harry J., Jr. Sauer (Author), Ronald H. Howell, ISBN-10: 1931862923 or ISBN-13: 978-1931862929
    • 1993 ASHRAE Handbook Fundamentals (Hardcover), ISBN-10: 0910110964 or ISBN-13: 978-091011096
  • HUMIDITY CONTROL & TARGETS INDOORS What indoor humidity should we maintain in order to avoid a mold problem?
  • Insulate & Weatherize (Taunton's Build Like a Pro), Bruce Harley. Review quoted:

    An engineer who trains builders in energy-efficient construction, Harley offers a wealth of information that will allow readers to improve their home's efficiency, saving both money and natural resources. After an introductory section that explains the underlying principles of heat transfer, insulation, and air quality, Harley demonstrates basics such as weather-stripping and moves forward through advanced projects including insulation and major upgrades.

    Short "Pro Tips" as well as sections labeled "Trade Secrets," "What Can Go Wrong," and "In Detail" provide a great deal of helpful information.

    Increasing energy efficiency is one of the easiest ways for homeowners to save money
  • Super-Insulated Retrofit Book: A Homeowner's Guide to Energy-Efficient Renovation, Robert Argue
  • The super-insulated retrofit book: A homeowner's guide to energy-efficient renovation (Sun builders series), Brian Marshall
  • In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested

    CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.

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