Heat Pump Sizing Explained
Why the right size matters and how installers should calculate it.
Tons and BTUs
Heat pumps are sized in tons. One ton = 12,000 BTU per hour. Most homes need 2–5 tons.
Ask for a Manual J
A Manual J load calculation looks at insulation, windows and climate. Rules of thumb like '1 ton per 500 sq ft' often oversize the unit, which wastes money and hurts comfort.
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