# BTU fight: Stove vs A/C
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btu-fight-stove-vs-a-c/538334
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 4, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btu-fight-stove-vs-a-c/538334 "2010-05-04T21:22:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btu-fight-stove-vs-a-c/538334/1 "2010-05-04T21:22:48Z")
The large burner in my stove is rated for 15K BTU. Does this mean that turning it on will counter 15K BTU from the capacity of my A/C unit? That turning all the burners will effectively negate the A/C entirely (if they add up to the A/C rating). That A/C on and all burners going = A/C off and all burners off?
I am considering installing A/C on the living areas and this is the type of detail that A/C installers seem to be clueless about and might make a huge difference.
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### Author:  [@Batfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batfish)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/btu-fight-stove-vs-a-c/538334/2 "2010-05-04T22:47:11Z")
Yes, in the case of an appliance with electric resistance heat the btu/hr rating is going to exactly offset the btu/hr rating of your cooling system. IF the appliance is in use 24 hours/day.
In reality a reasonable duty cycle of the appliance along with the btu/hr rating is used to estimate the cooling load in a cooling calculation.
Since most single-family dwellings with a kitchen have approximately the same appliances it’s likely to be pre-applied to any load calculation software or tables.