When sizing up a new air conditioner, heat pump, or HVAC unit, it is common to hear the pros throw around terms involving tonnage, saying for example, you need a 3-ton or 4-ton unit. For reference, 4 tons is about the weight of an adult elephant! But don’t be alarmed: they’re not talking about the weight of the unit! This is a throw-back from the 1800’s and the term stuck. You may also hear pros refer to the capacity of HVAC units in terms of BTUs.
