Before buying or renting a furnace, it’s wise to do what you can to ensure it will really meet your needs.
A furnace that is too small will deliver inconsistent and unsatisfactory heating. That’s especially noticeable when you have multiple rooms that need to be heated or many people in the house.
One that is too large may have better heating performance in some situations, but it will suffer from efficiency issues that affect your energy bill and may lead to maintenance problems down the road.
This means it’s always in your best interests to size your furnace precisely. Your home’s dimensions can help you narrow down your furnace options to the right size category. Once you’ve estimated your needs, a local HVAC expert can help you explore viable options in your budget.
Basic Measurements for Choosing a Furnace
Throughout North America, furnace output is rated in terms of BTU – British Thermal Unit. This is a quantity of energy needed to raise the temperature of a pound of water by 1° Fahrenheit. Most furnaces have a rated output of several thousand BTUs, with actual output dependent on efficiency.
To know what BTU rating you want in your furnace, start with your home’s measurements.
In general, you want a system that provides 120-135 BTUs of heating for every square meter of your home.
With that in mind, if your home is 1,500 square feet, select a new furnace that produces between 45,000 and 50,000 BTUs of heat. You can assume that a newer unit is at least 96% efficient, so a system with a BTU rating of 45,000 can be relied on to deliver 43,200 BTUs of heating consistently.
Expert Help is Essential to Accurate Furnace Sizing
As you can see, choosing a furnace that delivers the minimum BTUs needed for your home will not always get the job done. At the same time, it’s vital not to size up too far. This is why you should check your figures with an HVAC system expert who understands how a furnace will actually perform in your home.
Various features of the building, including its shape, flooring, and exposure to sunlight during the day, can have noticeable effects on furnace performance. An expert can walk through your home and deliver the insights necessary to pick the perfect furnace for you.
For custom advice and information on the latest furnaces, contact Syles Mechanical.