How many CFM of air flow are required for a 3 ton air conditioning system?

For a 3-ton air conditioning system, the typical airflow requirement is approximately 400 cubic feet per minute (CFM) for each ton of cooling capacity. Since one ton is commonly equivalent to 12,000 BTUs, a 3-ton unit would translate to a cooling capacity of 36,000 BTUs.

To calculate the required CFM, the formula is straightforward: multiply the number of tons by 400 CFM per ton. Therefore, for a 3-ton system:

3 tons x 400 CFM/ton = 1200 CFM.

This calculation indicates that a 3-ton air conditioning system ideally requires around 1200 CFM of airflow to effectively and efficiently deliver the necessary cooling performance. This ensures the system operates within its designed parameters, promoting optimal comfort and energy efficiency in the space being cooled.