Construction
HVAC Ton
A unit of cooling capacity equal to 12,000 BTU/hour. One ton can cool approximately 400–600 square feet depending on climate zone and insulation quality.
The term dates to the cooling power of melting a ton of ice per day. Right-sizing matters: an oversized unit short-cycles and fails to dehumidify, while an undersized one runs constantly — so tonnage is matched to a room’s square footage, climate, and insulation.
Key Formula & Relationship
1 Ton = 12,000 BTU/h = 3.517 kW = 200 BTU/min
Reviewed by the Calculover Editorial Team for mathematical and practical accuracy.
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