Architectural Designs

Window air conditioner: Cool Only or Heat and Cool?

I need to get a new window air conditioner unit and I want to know if I should just get a cooling unit or a heat and cool unit. The house is 900 square feet and is pretty well insulated. For cooling I am planning on going with about 12,000 BTUs; the last unit we had was like 10,000 BTUs and almost 30 years old, so a newer 12,000 BTU system should do fine for cooling. My real question is whether or not one of these units can effectively heat 900 sqft. On a 12,000 BTU system the heating BTUs are 11,000. How many BTUs should I need to heat a home of this size? We have a wall furnace that heats well, but I am not sure if that is more or less efficient than an electric heater or heat pump. So what do you think I should do in this situation? Thanks. I am in Sacramento, CA.

Public Comments

1. Depend where you live. In a moderate climate it will work but as the temp. decreaces the heat pump effeciency decreases. 900 sq ft would require at least 48,000 btu to heat anywhere north of Atlanta.HVAC Tech, 15 years
2. Cool only, the gas wall heater is cost less to operate