Many homeowners experience a common event, which is purchasing a replacement furnace or a new furnace for a newly constructed home. Though initially, buying a new furnace may seem simple enough, there are quite a few things to keep in mind, such as size, efficiency, considering the budget and more as well. Ultimately, it can be overwhelming to understand all of the technical information, should you find yourself in the market for a new furnace. The BTU is one term you are likely to hear. In order to help you find the correct size of furnace for your home and accurately compare different brands and models, the BTU is a great place to start. We at Absolute P&M Services would like to further discuss the importance of BTU and basic information.
Why is a Furnace BTU Important?
Being more than an acronym for British Thermal Unit, the BTU is a unit of measurement for the heating systems capacity. The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by 1°F in technical terms is what the BTU measures. The rating indicates to you how much energy a furnace or heat pump can produce, in simpler terms. The more BTUs your system will need, to effectively heat your home the larger your home is, in general. The majority of homes will fall into the 80,000 to 100,000 range though residential furnaces can range from 40,000 to 200,000 BTUs. BTU is all about capacity, as we mentioned earlier. Make certain to not confuse the BTU term with energy-efficiency, it is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or the SEER, which is the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, or AFUE regarding furnaces, and for heat pumps.
How Do You Calculate BTUs Needed?
The correct size furnace for your home is important, and bigger is not always better in this application. To determine the required BTUs is not as simple as looking at the size of your home, unfortunately. There are takes several factors into account that are listed below since the most accurate method is the Manual J Load calculation. Considerations for the BTU:
– The Tightness of the Window and Door
– Exposure of the Sun
– Square Footage
– The Average Number of Occupants
– Insulation Grade
– Home’s Construction & Building Materials
Forced Air Furnace & Boiler Maintenance, Repairs, Replacement & More in Santa Fe, Tomball, Sugar Land, Galveston, Austin & Greater Houston, Texas
Since for most homeowners, calculating the required BTU using the Manual J Load calculation is not an easy task, it is in your better interest to hire a professional and experienced HVAC technician. When it comes to buying a new furnace for your Greater Houston, Texas area home, the professionals of Absolute P&M Services can help you with the process. You will find the furnace that fits your budget, preferred features, and quality model, our specialists will help you calculate the BTUs as well as the AFUE, in addition to assisting you with installation. Contact Absolute P&M Services today to get the process started on buying a new furnace.
