What Size AC Do I Need for a Covington Home? (Sizing Guide)

Air conditioners are sized in tons, where one ton equals 12,000 BTUs per hour of cooling. Most Covington homes land somewhere between 2 and 5 tons. You'll also see the SEER2 efficiency rating on the equipment, but that's about how efficiently it runs — not how much cooling it delivers.

The common shortcut is roughly 400–600 square feet per ton, which gets you a ballpark but ignores everything that actually matters: ceiling height, insulation, windows, sun exposure, duct condition, and — critically here — humidity.

This is the part that surprises people. An oversized AC cools the air to the thermostat setting fast, then shuts off — before it has run long enough to pull much moisture out of the air. The result is a home that's cold but clammy, with sticky air, musty smells, and condensation. In a climate that averages around 72% humidity, moisture removal is half the job, and short runtimes sabotage it.

An oversized unit also short-cycles — turning on and off constantly — which wears out the compressor, spikes your electric bill, and leaves rooms unevenly cooled. A correctly sized (even slightly conservative) system runs longer, steadier cycles that actually dehumidify. That's why we'd rather size a Covington home tight than oversize it.

A real Manual J load calculation weighs the factors a chart can't. The big ones for Northshore homes:

If you're replacing a system, don't assume the old tonnage was right — plenty of homes were oversized decades ago. Watch for these tells:

Before you buy, insist on a load calculation rather than "same size as the old one" or a square-footage estimate. A good installer measures your home, checks your ducts, and sizes for both temperature and humidity — then explains the SEER2 and the installed price in writing.

If you're planning a replacement in Covington or anywhere in St. Tammany Parish, call (327) 210-5999 and we'll size your system the right way — so it cools, dehumidifies, and lasts.