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what is the right size of furnace for my house

by Ms. Maribel Paucek Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

Chart For Furnace Tonnages And BTUs For 500 – 3,000 Sq Ft Houses
House Size (Sq Ft):Furnace Size (in BTUs):Furnace Size (in Tons):
2800 sq ft home126,000 BTU furnace10.5 tons furnace
2900 sq ft home130,500 BTU furnace10.9 tons furnace
3000 sq ft home135,000 BTU furnace11.3 tons furnace
23 more rows

Full Answer

How to estimate the right size furnace for your home?

  • Step #1: Determine Your Climate. Here in Minnesota, our winters are harsh and dry with temps regularly falling below zero. ...
  • Step #2: Estimate Your Home’s Square Footage. In addition to weather and climate, the size of your home also has a direct impact on the size furnace you’ll need.
  • Step #3: Calculate the Necessary BTU Output. ...

What size furnace is right for my home?

Best Furnace Brands

  • American Standard Furnaces. American Standard furnaces can cost anywhere from $2,494 to $4,375 to install depending on the size and AFUE ratings needed for your home.
  • Amana Gas Furnaces. ...
  • Bryant Furnaces. ...
  • Carrier Furnace Units. ...
  • Daikin Furnaces. ...
  • Goodman Gas Furnaces. ...
  • Lennox Furnace Units. ...
  • Rheem Furnaces. ...
  • Ruud Furnace Units. ...
  • Trane Gas Furnaces. ...

More items...

How big of a furnace do I need for my house?

But there are also "rule-of-thumb" estimations you can use to pick a furnace size for your home. For cooler climates, a very broad estimate of furnace sizing is to select one that generates 40 to 45 BTUs per square foot. At 40 to 45 BTUs per square foot, you'd need a 100,000 to 112,500 BTU furnace to heat your 2,500-square-foot home.

How to determine the correct home furnace size?

Things You Will Need

  • Calculator
  • Measuring tape
  • Notepad
  • Manufacturer BTU/hr charts

How do I determine what size furnace I need?

How to Calculate the Right Size FurnaceCalculate the square footage of your home. ... Find out What Climate Zone Your Home Is In Climate is another factor that helps determine how many BTUs you need to heat your home. ... Multiply your square footage by 40, the lower number recommended for the climate zone.Jun 1, 2021

What is the right furnace size for my home?

For a space of 800 to 900 square feet, such as a small home or two-bedroom townhouse, the recommendation is between 30,000 and 45,000 BTUs. An average 2,000-square foot home will need between 80,000 and 115,000 BTUs to heat efficiently. Need a new furnace?Apr 7, 2022

What size furnace Do I need to heat a 1500 square foot house?

between 45,000 to 90,000 BTUsA 1,500-square-foot home will require between 45,000 to 90,000 BTUs. A 1,800-square-foot home will require between 55,000 to 110,000 BTUs. A 2,100-square-foot home will require between 65,000 to 125,000 BTUs. A 2,400-square-foot home will require between 75,000 to 145,000 BTUs.Nov 22, 2021

How many square feet will a 80000 BTU furnace heat?

How Many Square Feet Will 30,000 - 120,000 BTU Furnace Heat?Furnace CapacitySquare Footage(Hot Climate)Square Footage(Cold Climate)80,000 BTU2,650 sq ft1,450 sq ft90,000 BTU3,000 sq ft1,630 sq ft100,000 BTU3,320 sq ft1,810 sq ft120,000 BTU4,000 sq ft2,180 sq ft6 more rows•Apr 1, 2022

Can a furnace be too big for a house?

Having a furnace that's too big for your space is extremely inefficient. There are two simple signs that indicate that your furnace is most likely oversized: Your furnace runs for a short period of time before shutting off. Your home has uncomfortable hot and cold rooms.

What size furnace do I need for 1400 sq ft house?

STEP 1: Determine how many BTUs of heating and tons of AC you needHouse Square FootageBTUs Needed1,000 – 1,20021,0001,200 – 1,40023,0001,400 – 1,50024,0001,500 – 2,00030,00010 more rows

Is a higher BTU furnace better?

A heater with a higher BTU rating is more powerful — that is, it has a higher heat output — than one with a low BTU rating. It can do more to raise the temperature in your room each hour, so you can either heat a room more quickly or heat a larger space.Jul 23, 2018

How furnaces are measured

Before discussing furnace size recommendations, it's essential to understand the basics behind furnace ratings.

Factors to consider when choosing a furnace size

For the most accurate furnace size estimation, you should consider a few factors, including your local climate and the square footage of your home. Here's how these factors (and others) impact which size furnace you should choose.

Calculating the right furnace size for your home

With all of this in mind, let's walk through some examples to determine which size furnace you need to keep your home warm.

The bottom line

Finding a furnace that fits your home is beneficial for many reasons, including your comfort and safety, your wallet and the environment.

What Size Furnace Do I Need For A 1000 Sq Ft House? (Example 1)

Let’s say we have a nice 1,000 square foot home in Los Angeles, California. We need two data points:

What Size Furnace Do I Need For A 2000 Square Foot Home? (Example 2)

2000 sq ft houses need double the furnace capacity compared to 1000 sq ft house.

What Size Furnace Do I Need For A 3000 Square Foot Home? (Example 3)

Furnace size for a 3,000 square foot home range from 105,000 BTU to 180,000 BTU, depending on the climate zone you’re in. Here is a table with calculated 3,000 sq ft furnace sizes for all 5 regions:

What factors come into play when choosing a furnace?

That's because choosing the right furnace isn't as simple as looking up a home's square footage on a chart; several factors come into play, including the local climate, the layout of the home and the condition of insulation and weather stripping.

What to do if you are not happy with your furnace?

If you're not completely happy with the performance of your current furnace, it could be that it's not properly sized to your home. Work with a licensed HVAC technician to calculate your home's needs the right way and make your next furnace a perfect fit.

What happens if your furnace is not the right size?

If your furnace is not the perfect size, you will run into some problems from wasting resources, wasting energy, to losing your hard earned money. Do not pay more for repairs and replacement costs down the road. Here is a more in-depth look on improper furnace sizing.

What happens if you oversize your furnace?

An over-sized furnace can lead to a whole list of issues for your home, including: 1 Unequal distribution of heat 2 Uncomfortable distribution of heat 3 Confusing temperatures cause furnace to cycle on and off 4 Reduction of your furnace’s life cycle 5 Failing heat exchangers

Why is it important to have a furnace?

It is important to have the right sized furnace to have effective heating year round for your home, to save you money on energy bills, and to allow your furnace to last a long time.

Why is my furnace not working?

The problem with an undersized furnace is the times that they do not work well, and this will mean your rooms being unable to reach the desired temperature. When your furnace is failing to reach the desired temperature, it will constantly run in an attempt to, this will lead to your furnace overworking itself and causing higher costs for energy. There will be times where you will find your furnace is on and working, but your home is still cold due to insufficient heating.

Why does my furnace cycle on and off?

Uncomfortable distribution of heat. Confusing temperatures cause furnace to cycle on and off. Reduction of your furnace’s life cycle. Failing heat exchangers. These are all problems and telltale signs that your furnace may be too big for your home.

What is a BTU in a gas furnace?

Gas furnaces are measured in British thermal units or BTUs. A BTU is the amount of water energy needed to cool or heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Figuring out a rough estimate.

How to find the square footage of a house?

To get the total square footage for your house start by measuring the length and width of each room, take these two measurements and multiply them together. Take all the numbers you have collected and add them together to get the total square footage. Take climate into account.

Why choosing the best Furnace Size Is So Important?

Although it may be tempting to choose a smaller furnace to save money on the purchase price or a larger furnace to boost space-heating, but with furnaces just as with so many things in our lives we should follow the rule of Golden mean: you need one that is just perfect, for your home.

How many BTU do I need for my house?

That is a crucial question that must be answered correctly. On the coldest winter days, a furnace that is way too undersized will not heat your home properly. Areas further away from the furnace may become uncomfortably cold in your home.

Furnace BTU

You need to remember, that “BTU/h” is sometimes abbreviated to just “BTU”. The modern unit of power for heating and cooling systems is the watt. 1000 BTU/h is approximately 293.1 W.

Calculating BTU requirements for a house

Let’s start with this very useful map. The climate becomes progressively colder from zone 1 to 3.

Professional furnace sizing

The best way to ensure your furnace is the right size for your home is to get an evaluation from a professional HVAC expert at Furnace Pro.

Why is furnace size important?

It might be tempting to buy a smaller furnace to save money on the purchase price or to buy a larger one to maximize space-heating, but furnaces are like Goldilocks’ porridge: you need one that is just right, for your home. A furnace that’s too big will cycle irregularly.

What can impact the size of a furnace?

From there, however, there are plenty of things that can impact the size furnace you need, including: The climate where you live. The style and orientation of your home. How many exterior walls you have.

How many BTUs per hour is a 60 MBH furnace?

MBH is one thousand BTUs per hour, so you’re still working with the same measurement: 60 MBH is 60,000 BTUs.

How is furnace output measured?

Furnace output is usually measured in British thermal units (BTUs) per hour. A BTU is a measurement of energy, and specifically the amount of energy required to increase 1 pound of water by 1 F.

Why does my furnace run continuously?

When a furnace runs continuously or irregularly because it’s not the right size, then you won’t get the efficiency rating you paid for , and that will result in more energy use and higher heating bills. To ensure your furnace operates at the efficiency level it’s supposed to, it has to be sized properly for your home.

STEP 1: Determine how many BTUs of heating and tons of AC you need

The best way to determine the perfect HVAC unit size is to have a Manual J calculation done for your house. The Manual J calculation is the most precise measurement available because it considers factors like:

STEP 2: Decide which unit to buy

Now it’s time to work with an HVAC dealer to learn more about the heating and cooling products they offer. Sometimes the dealer may not have your exact BTU size — but don’t worry. If your BTU requirement is between sizes, simply go with the bigger unit. For example, the Manual J calculation may say you need 25,000 BTUs for cooling.

What is a furnace?

A furnace is designed to heat your home’s air using different types of fuel. It blows hot air through ducts to deliver warm air via grills or air registers. Furnaces are also known as a forced warm-air or ducted warm-air distribution system, and they heat a home using one of these sources:

6 Steps to buying the best furnace for your home

These steps will help you narrow the range of furnace options. When shopping for a furnace, consider these six points:

Furnace Reviews

When deciding where to buy a furnace, check reviews through Consumer Reports and the Better Business Bureau to see how customers respond to problems and complaints. If you are having the furnace professionally installed, check reviews for the HVAC contractor as well.

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