Q&A for How to Calculate BTU Per Square Foot

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  • Question
    32,000 BTU equals what in tons?
    Community Answer
    The math indicates 2.6; however, a 2.6 is not manufactured, so you're dealing with a 2.5 T unit. Take the rated BTUs, 32 K/12,000. 12,000 represents BTUs per ton.
  • Question
    What size air conditioner should I buy for a 1,446 square foot home that has a vaulted ceiling in the living room?
    Community Answer
    30,000-36,000 BTU, depending on how many square feet the living room takes up, how much higher than a normal 8' ceiling the vault is, how much glass you have, and how well insulated the home is.
  • Question
    How many BTUs do I need for a 906 square foot house?
    Community Answer
    Anywhere from 17,500 - 18,500 BTUs. It depends on how well insulated the home is and how much glass you have.
  • Question
    If I'm buying a house that is 2145 sq. ft., will a 2 ton heat pump heat and cool it adequately?
    Community Answer
    Definitely not. Depending on how well the house is insulated, I'd say you need anywhere between 3.5 and 4 tons.
  • Question
    Do I include the basement area in the total heating area in calculations to size the furnace?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Yes, if you intend to heat the basement.
  • Question
    63,000 btu with seer of 14 -- what tonnage a/c would you suggest in an older home?
    Community Answer
    It depends on your prevailing climate. For an average US climate, a two-ton A/C unit would be sufficient.
  • Question
    How do I calculate how much baseboard heater capacity I can connect to a 15 AMP breaker?
    Community Answer
    Per the National Electrical Code (NEC), in general, the calculated load cannot exceed 80% of the circuit rating. Therefore, 80% of 15 AMP = 12 AMP max load. Assuming U.S. nominal voltage of 120V, the maximum heater rating is 120 Volts x 12 Amps max which means 1440 Volt-amps max assuming it is a standard resistance heater. If the circuit breaker (CB) is a 15 Amp 2-pole CB and the nominal voltage between the two poles is 240V; the maximum heater rating would be 80% x 15A x 240V = 2880 Volt-Amps max or 2880 Watts max for a standard resistance heater.
  • Question
    Will the height of the room affect the calculation?
    Community Answer
    It will not normally, just as a basement does not affect the furnace requirements. However, if the ceilings are over 12 feet, you might want to double up the square footage for that space.
  • Question
    Will an air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 27,600 cool a 22,500 square foot home during hot summers?
    Community Answer
    You will need several AC units. 22,500 square feet. is about the size of about 10 large houses.
  • Question
    The gas guy ordered my new Intertherm furnace for my mobile home. I told him the square footage is 1150, but didn't tell him that 200 of that is an add-on with no vents from the furnace. Is this dangerous?
    Community Answer
    No, it should be fine.
  • Question
    How do I determine what size furnace I need for my house if I know the climate and square footage?
    Community Answer
    You multiply the square footage of your house by the climate factor (40 for cold, 60 for warm climate). Then you divide the product by the boiler efficiency.
  • Question
    How do I calcute the BTU needed for a basement?
    Community Answer
    Measure the length and the width of the room. Take into account the insulation and the height of the ceilings. There are charts online. Always take into account shaded and sunny areas.
  • Question
    Are the ductless heat pumps efficient in winter?
    Community Answer
    Ductless heat pumps are generally more efficient than ducted heat pumps. because they do not incur duct losses. However, any heating or cooling system cannot perform efficiently when incorrectly installed. Other than that, compare the various energy rates in your region for the lowest cost energy source.
  • Question
    What wattage heater will I need to produce 1,000 BTUs?
    Community Answer
    You will need 293.25 electrical watts to produce 1,000 BTUs.
  • Question
    How many BTUs should I add for a sunroom with a low glass roof and windows facing south?
    Community Answer
    You should add 60 BTUs per square foot for the space for both heating and cooling. Glass has very poor insulating quality.
  • Question
    Does a 100,000-BTU furnace put out the same heat as a boiler with 100,000 BTU?
    Community Answer
    No, but it consumes the same amount of natural gas. It all depends on the efficiency of the unit.
  • Question
    I bought a cooler with 116.009 BTU. How much is it in tons?
    Community Answer
    12,000 BTU's is = to 1 ton of Cooling. So, 116k BTU's would be just short of 10 tons.
  • Question
    If I live far above sea level, how do I calculate BTU?
    Community Answer
    BTU is a measure of how much heat energy a device generates; the amount of energy released will depend on how much oxygen is in the atmosphere and how much fuel is being consumed by the apparatus. Altitude can have an effect on energy consumption, but the calculations are based on other factors.
  • Question
    How many air changes are required for an older house?
    Community Answer
    Most older homes have no requirement for air changes. Older home construction was not that tight. If an older home had been sealed to meet the construction standards of a new home, it is best to check with your local building department and inquire air change requirements for new construction, if any. The tendency is to over-seal homes, causing greater humidity and air quality problems than allowing them to leak.
  • Question
    How many BTU do I add if the room to be cooled is an insulated garage? It gets super hot in there, especially after I pull the car in.
    Community Answer
    It is impossible to answer, because every time you open the garage door you have to start cooling all over again.
  • Question
    I have a 1,000 square foot home, but 12 foot high ceilings. What size furnace do I need?
    Community Answer
    Depending on the construction of your home and the climate, you will need a furnace between 30,000 and 60,000 BTU per hour.
  • Question
    Will a furnace with 60,000 BTU with 48,000 output heat a 1248 square foot house?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but you'll be cutting it close.
  • Question
    How many BTUs for a 150 square foot enclosed room?
    Community Answer
    5000 BTU's should both adequately heat and cool an average insulated 150 square feet space.
  • Question
    What's the smallest size room a 100,000 BTU fan assisted appliance can be installed in without any additional combustion air?
    Community Answer
    For safety purposes, the appliance should only be installed if meeting the manufacture's combustion air requirements. However, a 100,000 BTU appliance should be installed in no less than a 625 square foot room having at least 8-foot ceilings. There should be at least 50 cubic feet of air for each 1,000 BTU of combustion. This "rule of thumb" is not a replacement for manufacture's combustion air requirements and the appliance may not operate properly or safely unless it meets the manufacture's recommendations.
  • Question
    How many BTUs are required to cool an 8300 square foot building and a 25,000 square foot building?
    Community Answer
    Approximately 21 tons cooling for the 8,300 sq. ft. building and 60 tons cooling for the 25,000 sq. ft. building.
  • Question
    How do I find the BTU's for a furnace?
    Community Answer
    On label on noted in BTUs or tons. If listed in tons, convert by multiplying by 12,000.
  • Question
    How much BTU is needed for a 1200 sq. ft. house?
    Community Answer
    40 to 45 BTUs per square foot * 1200 sq. ft = 48,000 to 54,000. If the efficiency is 80%, to attain 48,000 to 54,000 BTU, the furnace should be around 75,000 BTU.
  • Question
    How much BTU should there be for a 14 by 16 foot room?
    Community Answer
    All things being equal, about 7,000 BTU. More information is needed for a more accurate answer.
  • Question
    How much area is 1 ton in meters?
    Community Answer
    Approximately 50 square meters can be cooled by one cooling ton.
  • Question
    How many BTUs are needed to heat a 960-square-foot house?
    Community Answer
    Depending on the construction of your home and the climate, you will need between 29,000 BTU per hour and 58,000 BTU per hour.
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