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Glossary

Tonnage

Tonnage is the cooling capacity of an air conditioner or heat pump, and how it should be chosen.

Short answer

Tonnage is a measure of cooling capacity, not weight. One ton of cooling equals 12,000 BTU per hour, so a 3-ton system can remove about 36,000 BTU of heat from your home each hour.

Why it matters on your quote

Tonnage tells you how big the system is. Equipment that is too large for the house switches on and off often and can leave it humid; equipment that is too small may run constantly on the hottest days. The right size comes from a load calculation (Manual J), not from square footage or the old unit's label.

Quotes often show tonnage in the model number or as BTU, for example 36,000 BTU for 3 tons. Use the same tonnage to compare price per ton between quotes.

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Sources

  1. ACCA, Manual J Residential Load Calculation verified November 1, 2026
  2. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver Guide verified November 1, 2026

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