For an air conditioning unit with a 3-ton capacity, what is its BTU rating?

The capacity of air conditioning units is often measured in tons, and one ton of cooling capacity is equivalent to 12,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units) per hour. Therefore, a 3-ton air conditioning unit can be calculated by multiplying the number of tons by the BTU equivalent of one ton.

In this case, 3 tons multiplied by 12,000 BTU equals 36,000 BTU. This means that a 3-ton air conditioning unit has the capacity to remove 36,000 BTUs of heat from the air each hour, which is a key factor in determining how effectively it can cool a specific space. This understanding is crucial for home inspectors when evaluating the cooling systems in homes, as proper sizing of an air conditioning unit is important for energy efficiency and comfort.