What size AC for Torrance, CA? 2 tons for 2,000 sq ft

What size AC a 2,000 sq ft house in Torrance needs

2 tons central AC or heat pump, about 21,800 BTU/hr of load

The 20 BTU per square foot chart would put in 3.5 tons, about 93% more than this climate needs. An oversized unit cools the air fast, shuts off before it pulls moisture out, and leaves the house cold and clammy.

If a contractor quotes you more than 2 tons for an average 2,000 sq ft house here, ask to see the Manual J load calculation behind it before you sign. That works out to one ton per 1,102 square feet in this climate. For a single room, size by the room: 10.9 BTU/hr per square foot.

The climate it is sized for

Climate from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals at Torrance Airport (2.2 mi away). Aug is the hottest month, averaging a high of 78.1°F and a low of 62.4°F, with about 6 days a year at 90°F or more. That gives a design temperature of 82°F against 75°F inside.

What it costs to run

About 853 kWh a year at SEER2 14.3, or roughly $278 at California's average residential rate of 32.58¢ per kWh. Cooling runs 5 months of the year here.

What drives the load in Torrance

Of the 21,800 BTU/hr, 5,040 comes through walls, roof and windows on a 82°F afternoon (23%), 13,000 is sun on the house (60%), 2,120 is four people and their appliances, and 1,600 is moisture the coil has to wring out of Torrance's summer air (7%).

Sun is the biggest share here, more than heat through the walls, so shading west windows and a light roof cut the size you need more than extra insulation would. Sensible heat totals 20,160 BTU/hr before the moisture allowance.

Other house sizes in Torrance

Single rooms with a window or mini-split unit: a 150 sq ft bedroom needs about 1,600 BTU/hr; a 350 sq ft living room needs about 3,800 BTU/hr; a 600 sq ft open plan kitchen and family room needs about 6,500 BTU/hr.

Month by month in Torrance

Aug alone uses 25% of the year's cooling energy. The unit runs the equivalent of 560 hours a year at full output.

Torrance against nearby cities

Of 376 California cities here, Torrance has the 296th highest cooling load. The range runs from Corte Madera at 15,700 BTU/hr to Palm Desert at 59,000.

Where Torrance's weather numbers come from

The nearest NOAA station with full 1991 to 2020 normals is Torrance Airport, 2.2 miles from the center of Torrance at 90 ft above sea level. That is close enough that the station's summers are Torrance's summers.

5 other cities use the same station and get the same climate inputs. The closest to Torrance: Redondo Beach (3 mi away, 4.8 mi from the station), Lomita (3 mi away, 1.5 mi from the station), Palos Verdes Estates (6 mi away, 5.2 mi from the station), Carson (6 mi away, 5.9 mi from the station), Rancho Palos Verdes (6 mi away, 4.7 mi from the station). Torrance is farther from the station than 1 of them.

The sun over Torrance in late July

At 33.83°N, the noon sun on 21 July stands 76.6° above the horizon over Torrance and the day runs 13 h 55 min from sunrise to sunset. A lower noon sun puts more of the day's heat on east and west walls than on the roof, which is why shading west glass pays off here. Shorter days give the house a longer night to shed the day's heat.

139,576 people live in Torrance, the 43rd largest of the 376 California cities sized on this site. Coordinates used: 33.8305, -118.3566.

Torrance AC sizing questions