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Basic HVAC Formulas
Many basic HVAC formulas are used in the HVAC industry. We have compiled some of the most common formulas so that
our customers will have them at their fingertips.

ONE TON OF REFRIGERATION DRY AIR = 78.0% Nitrogen

The amount of heat required to melt a ton (2000 lbs.) of ice at 32F 21.0% Oxygen
288,000 BTU/24 hr. 1.0% Other Gases
12,000 BTU/hr.
WET AIR = same as dry air plus water vapor
APPROXIMATELY 2 inches Hg. (mercury) = 1 psi
SPECIFIC DENSITY = 1 ____
WORK = Force (energy exerted) x Distance Specific Volume
Example: A 150 lb. man climbs a flight of stairs 100 ft. high
Work = 150 lb. x 100 ft. SPECIFIC DENSITY OF AIR = __1__ = .075 lbs./cu.ft.
Work = 15,000 ft.-lb. 13.33

ONE HORSEPOWER = 33,000 ft.-lb. of work in 1 minute STANDARD AIR = .24 Specific Heat (BTUs needed to raise 1 lb. 1 degree)

ONE HORSEPOWER = 746 Watts SENSIBLE HEAT FORMULA (Furnaces):

BTU/hr. = Specific Heat x Specific Density x 60 min./hr. x CFM x T
CONVERTING BTU to KW: 3413 BTUs = 1 KW = .24 x .075 x 60 x CFM x T
Example: A 100,000 BTU/hr. oil or gas furnace = 1.08 x CFM x T
(100,000 3413 = 29.3 KW)
ENTHALPHY = Sensible heat and Latent heat
COULOMB = 6.24 X 1018 (1 Coulomb = 1 Amp)
E = voltage (emf) TOTAL HEAT FORMULA (for cooling, humidifying or dehumidifying)
I = Amperage (current) BTU/hr. = Specific Density x 60 min./hr. x CFM x H
R = Resistance (load) = 0.75 x 60 x CFM x H
= 4.5 x CFM x H
WATTS (POWER) = volts x amps or P = E x I
P(in KW) = (E x I) 1,000 RELATIVE HUMIDITY = __Moisture present___
Moisture air can hold
U FACTOR = reciprocal of R factor
Example: 1/19 R = .05U SPECIFIC HUMIDITY = grains of moisture per dry air
= BTUs transferred / 1 Sq.Ft. / 1F / 1 Hour 7000 GRAINS in 1 lb. of water

VA (how the secondary of a transformer is rated) = volts X amps DEW POINT = when wet bulb equals dry bulb
Example: 24V x .41A = 10 VA
TOTAL PRESSURE (Ductwork) = Static Pressure plus Velocity Pressure
ONE FARAD CAPACITY = 1 amp. stored under 1 volt of pressure
CFM = Area (sq. ft.) x Velocity (ft. min.)
MFD (microfarad) = 1/1,000,000 Farad
HOW TO CALCULATE AREA
LRA/5 (Locked rotor amps) = FLA (Full Load Amps) Rectangular Duct A=LxW
LRA = FLA x 5 Round Duct A = D2 or r2
4
TXV (shown in equilibrium)
46.7 Bulb Pressure RETURN AIR GRILLES Net free area = about 75%
Spring Pressure 9.7 37 Evaporator Pressure
Bulb Pressure = opening force 3 PHASE VOLTAGE UNBALANCE =
Spring and Evaporator Pressures = closing forces 100 x maximum deg. from average volts
Average Volts
RPM of motor = 60Hz x 120
No. of Poles NET OIL PRESSURE = Gross Oil Pressure Suction Pressure
1800 RPM Motor slippage makes it approximately 1750
3600 RPM Motor slippage makes it approximately 3450 COMPRESSION RATIO = Discharge Pressure Absolute
Suction Pressure Absolute
07/11
SINE = side opposite AREA OF CIRCLE: A = r2 PERIMETER OF CIRCLE: C = D
hypotenuse A = d2 C = 2r
4 C = Circumference
COSINE = side adjacent A = Area = 3.1416
hypotenuse = 3.1416 D = Diameter
r = radius r = radius
TANGENT = side opposite D = Diameter
side adjacent VOLUME OF RECTANGULAR SOLID:
PERIMETER OF SQUARE: P = 4s V = lwh
V = Volume
AREA OF SQUARE: a = s2 P = Perimeter l = length
A = Area s = side w = width
s = side h = height
PERIMETER OF RECTANGLE: P = 2l + 2w
AREA OF RECTANGLE: A = l x w P Perimeter VOLUME OF CYLINDRICAL SOLID:
A = Area l = length V = r2h
l = length w = width V = D2h
w = width 4
PERIMETER OF TRIANGLE: P = a + b + c V = Volume
AREA OF TRIANGLE: A = 1/2bh P = Perimeter = 3.1416
A = Area a = 1st side r = radius
b = base b = 2nd side D = Diameter
h = height c = 3rd side h = height

HEAT PUMP AUXILIARY HEAT sized at 100% of load FURNACE EFFICIENCY:

% Efficiency = energy output
ARI HEAT PUMP RATING POINTS (SEER Ratings) 47 17 energy input

NON-BLEND REFRIGERANTS: OIL BURNER STACK TEMPERATURE (Net) =

Constant Pressure = Constant Temperature during Saturated Condition Highest Stack Temperature minus Room Temperature
Example: 520 Stack Temp. 70 Room Temp. = Net Stack Temperature of 450
BLENDS = Rising Temperature during Saturated Condition
KELVIN TO CELSIUS: C = K 273
28 INCHES OF WC = 1 psi CELSIUS TO KELVIN: K = C + 273
ABSOLUTE TEMPERATURE MEASURED IN KELVINS
NATURAL GAS COMBUSTION:
Excess Air = 50%
15 ft.3 of air to burn 1 ft. 3 of methane produces: CAPACITANCE IN SERIES:
16 ft. 3 of flue gases: C = ______1________________
1 ft. 3 of oxygen 1 + 1 +.....
12 ft. 3 of nitrogen C1 C2
1 ft. 3 of carbon dioxide
2 ft. 3 of water vapor CAPACITANCE IN PARALLEL:
Another 15 ft. 3 of air is added at the draft hood C = C1 + C2 + . . . . .

GAS PIPING (Sizing CF/hr.) = Input BTUs GAS LAWS:

Heating Value Boyles Law: P1 V1 = P2 V2
Example: 80,000 Input BTUs = 80 CF/hr. P = Pressure (absolute)
1000 (Heating Value per CF of Natural Gas V = Volume
Example: _ 80,000 Input BTUs = 31 CF/hr.
2550 (Heating Value per CF of Propane) Charles Law: P1 = P2
T1 T2
FLAMMABILITY LIMITS P = Pressure (absolute)
Propane Butane Natural Gas T = Temperature (absolute)
2.4-9.5 1.9-8.5 4-14
Combined Gas Laws: P1 V1 = P2 V2
COMBUSTION AIR NEEDED Propane Natural Gas T1 T2
(PC=Perfect Combustion) 23.5 ft. 3 (PC) 10 ft. 3 (PC) P = Pressure (absolute)
(RC=Real Combustion) 36 ft. 3 (RC) 15 ft. 3 (RC) V = Volume
T = Temperature (absolute)
ULTIMATE CO2 13.7% 11.8%

CALCULATING OIL NOZZLE SIZE (GPH): PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM:

_ BTU Input___ = Nozzle Size (GPH) c2 = a2 + b2
140,000 BTUs C = hypotenuse
or a & b = sides
_______ BTU Output___________
140,000 X Efficiency of Furnace

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