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Baseline BTU load
Twenty BTU per square foot per hour, for an 8 foot ceiling in a temperate climate.
The Formula
base BTU = area x 20
Twenty BTU per square foot per hour, for an 8 foot ceiling in a temperate climate.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q0 | Baseline load | BTU per hour | The heat removal rate before adjustments. |
| A | Area | square feet | The floor area of the room. |
| 20 | Baseline rate | BTU per sq ft per hour | BTU per square foot per hour. |
What Each Symbol Means
Q0BTU per hour
Baseline load
The heat removal rate before adjustments.
Asquare feet
Area
The floor area of the room.
20BTU per sq ft per hour
Baseline rate
BTU per square foot per hour.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate air conditioner size page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Air Conditioner Size, filed under Everyday Life. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.