1. What is a BTU Heating Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the British Thermal Units (BTU) per hour needed to heat a house based on area, BTU per square foot, and heating factor.

Purpose: It helps homeowners and HVAC professionals determine appropriate heating system capacity for residential spaces.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( Q \) — Heating requirement (BTU/h)
• \( A \) — Area to be heated (square feet)
• \( \text{BTU/ft}^2 \) — BTU per square foot (typically 10 BTU/h·ft²)
• \( F_h \) — Heating factor (accounts for insulation, climate, etc.)

Explanation: The area is multiplied by base heating requirement per square foot, then adjusted by the heating factor for specific conditions.

3. Importance of BTU Calculation

Details: Proper BTU estimation ensures efficient heating, prevents system overloading, and helps select appropriately sized HVAC equipment.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the area in square feet, BTU per square foot (default 10), and heating factor (default 1.0). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical BTU/ft² value?
A: Most homes use 10 BTU/h per square foot as a baseline, but this varies by climate zone.

Q2: How do I determine the heating factor?
A: Use 1.0 for moderate climates, 1.2-1.5 for cold climates, or 0.8 for well-insulated homes in mild climates.

Q3: Should I include all floors in the area?
A: Yes, include the total heated area of all floors in your calculation.

Q4: Does this account for windows and insulation?
A: The heating factor should be adjusted based on these considerations - increase for many windows/poor insulation.

Q5: How do I convert BTU to other units?
A: 1 BTU/h ≈ 0.293 watts. For tons of cooling, divide BTU by 12,000.