Calculators
AC size calculator (BTU/kW) for Latvian apartments and houses
For a typical Latvian room you need roughly 100 W of cooling per m²: about 2.0 kW for up to 20 m², 2.5 kW for 20–25 m², and 3.5 kW for 25–35 m². Sun-facing rooms, top floors and poorly insulated panel buildings need more — use the calculator below for your exact case.
Quick sizing table (typical room, average sun)
| Room area | Cooling load | Unit class |
|---|---|---|
| 10 m² | 1.0 kW | 2.0 kW |
| 15 m² | 1.5 kW | 2.0 kW |
| 20 m² | 2.0 kW | 2.0 kW |
| 25 m² | 2.5 kW | 2.5 kW |
| 30 m² | 3.0 kW | 3.5 kW |
| 40 m² | 4.0 kW | 5.0 kW |
| 50 m² | 5.0 kW | 5.0 kW |
Methodology
The calculator uses a base cooling load of 100 W per m² at a 2.7 m reference ceiling, multiplied by: ceiling-height ratio; sun exposure (×0.9 shaded, ×1.15 sunny); top floor (×1.1); insulation quality by building series (×0.9 good, ×1.15 poor). It adds 100 W per person above two and 300 W for kitchens, then shows a ±10% range and the nearest standard unit class (2.0 / 2.5 / 3.5 / 5.0 / 7.0 kW). Building-series defaults (ceiling height, insulation) follow the Latvian series taxonomy documented in our buildings database.
Limitations — what to confirm with the installer
- This is a preliminary estimate, not a room-by-room heat-load calculation.
- Final sizing, unit placement, condensate routing and electrical capacity must be confirmed on site.
- Old wiring (hrushchevka-era aluminum) may limit what can be installed without electrical work.
Frequently asked questions
How many kW per m²?
Roughly 100 W of cooling per m² for a typical room with a 2.7 m ceiling; sunny rooms, top floors and poorly insulated buildings need 10–30% more.
Is a bigger AC always better?
No. An oversized unit short-cycles: worse dehumidification, more noise and wear. Size to the calculated load, not above it.
Does this replace an installer visit?
No — this is a preliminary estimate. Final sizing must be confirmed on site, together with placement, condensate routing and electrical capacity.