If you’re looking for a furnace, you have likely found that they come in different sizes and models. You may wonder how many BTUs you will need and what size furnace you will need to heat your home efficiently. The following are some tips that can help.
It Starts With Your Home’s Size
Home size is the number one factor when determining the furnace size you will need. Everything starts with square footage.
If you don’t know your home’s square footage, look at your home’s blueprint or the documents you were given during the closing process. It may be difficult to find these documents, so you can simply measure your house. Measure the length and width of each room in feet. Multiply the numbers to get the square footage. For example, if your room is 10 by 10, the square footage is 100 square feet.
As a quick reference, a room that is between 100 and 200 square feet will need a heater with an average of 4,000 to 8,000 BTUs. A house that is 2,000 square feet will need between 80,000 and 115,000 BTUs to adequately heat the home.
The Role That Climate Plays in Selecting the Right-Size Furnace
The average outdoor air temperature will influence the size of unit you will need. For example, if you live in zone one, which includes places like Florida and Texas, you will need between 30 and 35 BTUs per square foot to properly heat your home. If you live in the frozen tundra of zone seven, in places like Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin, you will need up to 60 BTUs per square foot to heat your home properly.
A BTU calculator uses the following formula to determine how many BTUs per square foot you will need. It is total square footage, times heating zone, which equals the total BTU output. If you live in a 2,000 square-foot home in Minnesota, which is in zone seven, you would multiply 2,000 by seven, meaning that your furnace’s total BTU output should be around 14,004 to heat your home efficiently.
Heating and Cooling Experts
The calculations mentioned above can give you a rough estimate of the size of furnace you will need. However, to get an exact number, contact our technicians at Loren’s Heating and Air. Our highly trained technicians are experts in heating and air conditioning installation, maintenance, and repair services. Contact us today. Let us help you make your home more comfortable.