Heating & Cooling Equipment

Cooling equipment

Window air conditioners

Not sure what size? Use the window AC calculator.

• 5,000 BTU window AC — small rooms up to 150 sq ft
• 8,000 BTU window AC — bedrooms, 150–350 sq ft
• 10,000 BTU window AC — living rooms, 350–450 sq ft
• 12,000 BTU window AC — large rooms, 450–550 sq ft
• 15,000 BTU window AC — very large rooms, 550–700 sq ft
• Browse all Energy Star window ACs →

Portable air conditioners

Not sure what size? Use the portable AC calculator.

• 8,000 BTU portable AC — small rooms, bedrooms
• 10,000 BTU portable AC — medium rooms
• 12,000 BTU portable AC — living rooms
• 14,000 BTU portable AC — large rooms, garages
• Browse all portable ACs →

Mini split systems (ductless)

Not sure what size? Use the mini split calculator.

• 9,000 BTU mini split — single room, up to ~350 sq ft
• 12,000 BTU mini split (1 ton) — bedrooms, offices, up to ~500 sq ft
• 18,000 BTU mini split (1.5 ton) — large rooms, up to ~750 sq ft
• 24,000 BTU mini split (2 ton) — open-concept, up to ~1,000 sq ft
• 36,000 BTU mini split (3 ton) — large zones, up to ~1,500 sq ft
• Multi-zone mini split systems — 2–5 indoor heads
• Browse all ductless mini splits →

Heating equipment

Heat pumps

Not sure what size? Use the heat pump calculator. Check for federal tax credits — heat pumps qualify for up to $2,000.

• Heat pump mini split systems — year-round heating + cooling
• Portable heat pump ACs — no permanent installation

Space heaters

Not sure what size? Use the space heater calculator.

• Small space heaters (energy efficient) — under desks, personal use
• 1,500W space heaters (~5,120 BTU) — standard plug-in, most rooms
• Infrared space heaters — directional warmth, quiet
• Garage heaters (electric) — workshops, garages
• Oil-filled radiator heaters — silent, steady warmth
• Browse all space heaters →

For steady comfort, it’s usually better to seal drafts and heat loss than to oversize a portable heater. Need whole-home sizing? Use the furnace size calculator.

Comfort upgrades

Ceiling fans

Not sure what size? Use the ceiling fan calculator.

• 42″ ceiling fans — bedrooms, small rooms (75–144 sq ft)
• 52″ ceiling fans (most common) — living rooms (145–225 sq ft)
• 60″ ceiling fans — great rooms (226–400 sq ft)
• 72″ ceiling fans — very large spaces (400+ sq ft)
• Outdoor ceiling fans (wet rated) — patios, porches
• Browse all ceiling fans →

Dehumidifiers

Not sure what size? Use the dehumidifier calculator.

• 22-pint dehumidifiers — small areas, closets
• 35-pint dehumidifiers — medium rooms
• 50-pint dehumidifiers (Energy Star) — large rooms, basements
• 70-pint dehumidifiers — whole basements, wet environments
• Dehumidifiers for basements
• Crawlspace / commercial dehumidifiers
• Browse all dehumidifiers →

Maintenance & controls

Air filters (recurring purchase)

Find your size with the air filter size calculator. Replace 1″ filters every 1–3 months; 4″ filters every 6–9 months.

• 14×20×1 air filters
• 16×25×1 air filters (MERV 13) — most common size
• 20×20×1 air filters (MERV 13)
• 20×25×1 air filters (MERV 13)
• 20×25×4 air filters (deep, MERV 13) — lasts 6–9 months
• Browse all HVAC air filters →

Smart thermostats

A smart thermostat can save 10–15% on heating/cooling. Estimate savings with the energy cost calculator.

• Google Nest thermostats
• ecobee thermostats
• Honeywell Home thermostats
• Browse all smart thermostats (Energy Star) →

Insulation & weatherization

Often the cheapest “BTU upgrade” is reducing heat gain and loss. These low-cost improvements can reduce your heating/cooling needs by 10–30% and often pay for themselves in a single season.

• Weatherstripping (doors & windows) — $5–15
• Window insulation kits — $10–30
• Spray foam insulation kits — $10–40
• Door sweeps / draft stoppers — $8–20
• Outlet insulation gaskets — $5–10

Use a thermal leak detector to find drafts before you seal them. For official guidance, see the Energy.gov weatherization guide.

Diagnostic tools & meters

These inexpensive tools help you diagnose comfort problems, verify equipment performance, and identify where you’re losing energy.

• Thermal leak detector — find drafts, cold spots, insulation gaps
• Infrared thermometer gun — check surface temperatures instantly
• Indoor hygrometer (temp + humidity) — monitor comfort levels
• Electricity usage monitor (Kill A Watt) — measure actual watt draw
• Anemometer (airflow meter) — check vent airflow CFM

Services & resources

• Get HVAC quotes from local contractors
• ACCA Manual J — official load calculation standard
• ENERGY STAR federal tax credits — rebates for high-efficiency equipment
• Energy.gov weatherization guide — federal tips for reducing heating/cooling load
• Check electricity rates in your area
• Home Depot heating & cooling
• Lowe’s heating & cooling