How many btu per square foot do I need to heat a room?
This post only talks about heating.If you're looking for a calculator for cooling, check out the AC Btu Calculator.
This guide will help you figure out the right size furnace for your heating needs.It is based on how much heating you need per square foot.For example, you can answer a question like, "how many BTU do I need to heat 1500 square feet?" by taking those very important factors into account.Or 2000 square feet?More?
The heating rule of thumb varies depending on the climate and the size of the house.
There are four easy steps to calculate the amount of heating you need.What about standard boilers and wood stove/boilers?
It is important to get a correct answer to that question.On the cold winter days, a furnace that is too small will not be enough to heat your home.Rooms that are not close to the furnace can become uncomfortably cool.
Warm spots at the grate near the furnace can be created by a furnace that is too large.
The rule of thumb for the amount of heating per square foot is 30 to 60.One furnace is twice as large as the other, so the size factors are discussed to help you narrow down the right BTUs needed for your home.
The price and buying guide for PickHVAC furnace reviews was used to create this list.
The map shows the zones.The heating BTU calculator below uses factors other than climate to give you the most accurate information.
Is it possible to heat BTU per square foot for boilers?All of the details are discussed in our PickHVAC Boiler Reviews, Prices and Buying Guide.
This map is very useful.It was adopted by the US Department of Energy's office of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
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1.You can find your location on the map.If you are near the border, choose the higher number/cooler Zone.
2.You can enter the square footage of your home.If you don't know it, the information can be found on a blueprints or house drawing.If you don't have any of those, the easiest way to determine is to measure within your home and add their totals.
3.How well your home is sealed is one of the keys to insulation.Is your home covered in house wrap like Tyvek?It is also called a vapor barrier.Vapor barrier/wrap will have to be installed the next time you replace the siding if your home doesn't have it.
Is the windows and doors in good shape?If you answer yes to the house wrap and window/doors questions, you can choose Good or Average in the insulation box.If your home is older and hasn't been renovated, or if you can feel drafts coming in around windows and doors, choose Poor.
Adding attic insulation to an attic that is inadequately insulated is the #1 way to lower your heating bills and get the best return on investment.The Remodeling Magazine annual survey shows that attic insulation has a return on investment of up to 120%.The money will be gained back through lower energy bills.
4.Climate and the trees around your home factor into this box.Heavily shaded is the choice if your home is surrounded by tall trees that shade the walls and roof.Most homes are either average or very sunny.
Even if there are no shade trees around the house, "very sunny" means something very different in Denver than it does in Portland, Oregon.The map below should be considered.The climate is more sunny when the color is deeper.The average for sun exposure in Minnesota is Average for a home with no shade.
The chart begins small and progresses to homes in the average to large size category.It answers common search queries.
Depending on the climate, you have to think about more than one heating device for your home.If you consider the size of the zones in your home, you can still use this chart.
If the bedroom and office area zone is 1,800 square feet and the living areas and kitchen are 2,400, add together the recommended BTUs for each.Depending on the climate and house factors, you will need between 180,000 and 280,000 total BTUs for your home.
A mini split heat pump is a really good option for smaller rooms.They come with a lower installation cost than furnaces.
The heat is needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water to 1 degree.British thermal unit is the full name.
It can be applied to most heating equipment.The correct rating is the amount of heat created in one hour of constant operation.
Did you know?Air conditioning ratings are also used.The amount of heat the equipment creates isn't the only thing that determines the rating for ACs.
The amount of heat moved from outside to inside during heating is the same for heat pumps and air conditioners.
How many air conditioners do I need?Explains how heat pumps and air conditioners work.
Most heating equipment, such as propane, oil and gas furnaces, are rated simply by the amount of heat they can create in one hour.
The water used to heat the water in your hot water tank is provided by either of the heating equipment types.The second half of that sentence is a mouthful, but that hot water doesn't get into your pipes.Instead, it circulates through a pipe in your hot water tank.Where free or cheap wood is readily available, this type of heating equipment is growing in popularity.The reviews and buying guide can be found here.