Having an air conditioner is beneficial if you reside in a mobile home and the climate reaches high temperatures. So, what size air conditioner is for a 14×70 mobile home?
Ideally, you want to match the air conditioner’s BTU rating to the square footage of your home. In this case, choose an air conditioner that ranges from 18,000 to 21,000 BTUs or a 2.5 ton mobile home AC unit as an average guideline.
Air conditioning units can vary significantly in size and capacity. If you want to cool down a 14×70-foot mobile home, you have multiple options available:
- A window air conditioner
- Portable air conditioners
- Central air conditioning unit
There is also a sure-fire way to determine the size air conditioner you’ll need based on the square footage of your home, which we go into more detail below.
What Size Air Conditioning Unit for 14×70 Mobile Home?
It comes down to some simple math to figure out the home’s square footage and how many BTUs your air conditioner should have for proper cooling output.
In this instance, you will multiply 14 by 70 for the coverage area of your mobile home. The result totals 980 square feet.
Next, you determine how many BTUs your air conditioner needs for 980 square feet.
On the one hand, an 18,000 BTU unit will effectively cool down a space up to 1,000 square feet if there are no other severe elements, such as humidity or sunlight exposure.
The next step up is an AC unit with 21,000 BTUs, which may not be energy efficient if you do not need that much power to cool down your home.
As a standard, a 2.5 ton air conditioning unit will put out enough BTUs for 1,000 square feet, giving you a terrific cooling system for your 14×70 mobile home.
What Size Window Unit Air Conditioner for 14×70 Mobile Home?
Alternatively, a window air conditioner is smaller and is ideal for cooling down one room or local space. If you want to cool off your entire mobile home, you may need to invest in more than one window unit for a 14×70 space.
On average, you will find window air conditioning units ranging between 8,000 and 12,000 BTU.
While this is not enough to cool an entire 14×70 space, it can help keep a bedroom or living area cooler.
You can also help increase the effectiveness of your air conditioner by using a ceiling fan or oscillating fan to help distribute the cool air through the rest of the home.
For example, a standard 10,000 BTU window air conditioner unit will keep a 400 square foot area cool.
What Size Air Conditioner for 16×80 Mobile Home?
If you reside in a 16×80 mobile home, you will need an AC unit that has the capability to cool off 1,280 square feet.
The next step up in air conditioners is 21,000 BTU, which will work for homes up to 1,200 square feet.
Alternatively, you can help improve your air conditioner’s effectiveness by using fans and making sure you close window blinds or curtains to keep direct sunlight out.
Finally, if you live with extreme temperatures or high humidity, choose an air conditioner with a higher BTU than 21,000 for cooling your 16×80 mobile home space.
In this case, a 4 ton air conditioners for a mobile home will work exceptionally well even if your residence is in direct sunlight or you live in an area with high humidity.
What Size Window Unit Air Conditioning Unit for 16×80 Mobile Home?
As previously mentioned, window air conditioners have limits on what they can do because of their smaller BTU capacity.
Therefore, for anyone living in a 16×80 mobile home, it would be ideal to have at least two window air conditioners in different areas of the house for effective cooling.
These window models should be at least 12,000 BTU and sit at opposite ends of the mobile home to help distribute cooler air throughout the space.
Is Central Air Better Than Window or Portable Units for a Mobile Home?
Pros of Central Air
- These units save space inside the mobile home
- They increase the mobile home resale value
- It is a more convenient way to cool off multiple rooms simultaneously
- These units are low maintenance and highly cost-effective
- Reduces humidity in the mobile home
- It helps provide cleaner air indoors
- Produce much less operation noise than the alternatives
- The thermostats are programmable to maintain a consistent temperature
- They are often integrative with existing furnace units
Cons of Central Air
- They are an expensive initial investment
- They require costly ductwork
- Energy bills can be higher if they are left operating for extended periods
- Mold and mildew can develop easily
- You will need someone to clean and service the unit and ducts regularly
- There can be warm or cold spots throughout the mobile home
Pros of Window Units
- They are less expensive to purchase and use
- These units are readily available
- Homeowners can install them without the help of a costly professional
- These models are flexible to use in warmer rooms, such as upstairs bedrooms, without having to cool rooms that do not need it
- It is easy to install and operate
- It can be less expensive to run when you turn it off once you reach a desirable temperature
- You can take them with you when you sell your home
Cons of Window Units
- These units may operate louder than some homeowners would prefer
- You need to monitor the condensation discharge so it will not leak back into the home
- They take up space in an entire window, blocking the outside view and making the window unusable
- These models are not portable to move around a house easily
- It will continuously run until you shut it off, which can create a costly energy bill
- Having a window unit can be a security risk for enticing burglaries
- The window has to fit the size of the AC unit precisely
- An electrical outlet needs to be nearby to plug the window model in for it to work
Pros of Portable Units
- These models are highly portable and versatile to move from room to room
- The overall cost is less central air conditioning
- These AC units require virtually no installation before using
- You can take these models with you if you sell your home
- Homeowners can hide these models out of view or out of a high traffic area
- Some models do not require the use of a window
Cons of Portable Units
- They cost more than window AC units
- Many styles require you to empty the water reservoir
- Some models will need to vent through a window
- The operation noise can be loud, depending on the model
- They are heavy and challenging to move to different floors
How the Sun and Geography Can Affect Your AC Unit’s Performance
Of course, the condition of your mobile home and the climate will also affect what size AC unit you will require for your space and its performance.
If your mobile home is not insulated correctly or has drafts around doors and windows, it will require more energy to cool down your space.
Therefore, your air conditioner will have to do more work since some of the cooling effects will escape to the outside atmosphere and not remain in the home as it should.
Opt for a more powerful air conditioner for the best performance in locations that reach extreme temperatures.
For example, a standard 21,000 BTU AC unit will not be as effective in areas with high heat as it would in climates that do not get as hot.
So, naturally, if your home is sitting in direct sunlight for most of the day, the air conditioner will have its work cut out for it.
However, a 5 ton AC unit for a mobile home may be the best choice for larger spaces in these extreme conditions. This way, you are sure to have it cool your area effectively.
Alternatively, areas with high humidity levels will also alter the effectiveness of an air conditioner. Because these devices remove humidity from the air and cool it down, humid locations can make your AC less effective, fill the drain pan quicker, or overwork the unit.
Final Thoughts
Having an air conditioner can make your home more comfortable, especially during those hot summer days.
A central AC unit can be the best choice for resale value, convenience, and effectiveness for many homeowners.
These models will also provide additional health benefits to residents who suffer from breathing conditions or seasonal allergies.
Consequently, not all mobile homes will need such a significant investment of a central air system and will do quite fine with a standard window air conditioner.
But, of course, each model has benefits and disadvantages, so examining your individual needs and budget can help you decide on which option is best.
A properly size AC unit is going to keep energy bills down and keep your home cool. An oversized air conditioner can be a problem in itself if not properly sized before placement.
Always make sure you purchase the right size air conditioner even if you aren’t going to cool a mobile home.
Looking to cool down a 2000 square foot space? Check out our guide.
