In Panama, the story usually starts the same way.
A hot evening. A second-floor bedroom. A west-facing window. The sun has set, but the walls are still warm. You turn on your brand-new air conditioner… and an hour later the room still feels stuffy.
“But I bought a 9,000 BTU unit. That should be enough.”
This is where the most common mistake begins.
BTU (British Thermal Unit) measures how much heat an air conditioner can remove per hour.
More BTU means more cooling capacity.
Most people choose like this:
— Small room → 9,000 BTU
— Medium → 12,000
— Large → 18,000
In Panama, that logic often fails.
Imagine a 20 m² (215 sq ft) bedroom.
In a mild climate, 12,000 BTU might be enough.
But in Panama you have:
— constant high humidity
— sun-heated walls year-round
— daily AC operation
— limited insulation
Cooling humid air requires more capacity.
❌ Too few BTUs:
— compressor runs continuously
— higher energy bills
— weak cooling
❌ Too many BTUs:
— rapid cooling but short cycles
— poor humidity control
— premature wear
Yes, oversizing is also a problem.
Practical Guide for Panama
• 130–160 sq ft → 12,000 BTU
• 190–240 sq ft → 18,000 BTU
• 270–380 sq ft → 24,000 BTU
Always consider:
— ceiling height
— sun exposure
— number of occupants
— electronics
A properly sized system:
— cools efficiently
— controls humidity
— reduces energy consumption
— lasts longer
In Panama, choosing the right BTU isn’t optional. It’s essential.
At 24Clima, we calculate real cooling load — so your AC works with the climate, not against it.
