1. What is a Garage Heating BTU Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the BTU (British Thermal Units) per hour required to effectively heat a garage space based on its size, insulation quality, and exposure.

Purpose: It helps homeowners and professionals determine the appropriate heating capacity needed for garage heating systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( Q \) — BTU required per hour (BTU/h)
• \( A \) — Area of the garage (square feet)
• \( \text{BTU/ft}^2 \) — Base heating requirement per square foot
• \( F_g \) — Insulation/exposure factor

Explanation: The garage area is multiplied by the base BTU requirement, then adjusted by a factor that accounts for insulation quality and exposure to outdoor conditions.

3. Importance of Proper BTU Calculation

Details: Accurate BTU calculation ensures your garage heater is properly sized - neither underpowered (resulting in inadequate heating) nor overpowered (wasting energy and money).

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the garage area in square feet, base BTU requirement (default 30 BTU/h·ft²), and insulation factor (default 1.5). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the typical BTU per square foot for garages?
A: Most garages require 20-30 BTU/h per square foot as a base value, depending on climate.

Q2: How do I determine the insulation factor?
A: Use 1.0 for well-insulated garages, 1.5 for moderate insulation, and 2.0+ for poorly insulated or exposed garages.

Q3: Does this account for ceiling height?
A: The default values assume standard 8-10 ft ceilings. For higher ceilings, increase the BTU per square foot value.

Q4: Should I round up the calculated BTU?
A: Yes, it's recommended to round up to the nearest heater size available (typically in 5,000 BTU increments).

Q5: What about garage doors?
A: If your garage has large doors or frequent openings, consider using a higher insulation factor (1.8-2.2).