BTUs are one of the most important numbers on a heating or cooling unit. BTU is an acronym for British Thermal Units. It is the standard measure of heat output for most English speaking countries, so virtually all of North America uses this system of measure. A BTU is measured as the amount of energy necessary to increase the temperature a pound of water by 1 degree F at sea level. Compare BTUs to calories in the human body and you can better understand their use in HVAC, gas systems, and a variety of other home appliance products.
SO, THE HIGHER THE NUMBER, THE BETTER?
Not exactly. Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing in the instance of BTUs. A system that maintains a higher BTU than necessary will cycle on to cool the area quickly and shut off as it should, but once the area heats up again, the system will have to cycle once more and possibly overextending the compressor and overworking the system. It will work in the short term, but will eventually cause premature break down to your entire HVAC unit.
TOO LITTLE BTU CONCERNS
BTUs for your individual system are designed to heat a designated area and having to few BTUs for your system will cause the unit to continue to run without shutting off. The unit can eventually burn out from overuse and consequently shorten the lifespan of your entire unit. BTUs that are too little for the space will cost more in repair, maintenance, and ultimate replacement of the unit.
BTUS BASED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE
Square footage of the space is important when calculating BTUs. The average sized home is around 1,900 square feet and requires a 28,000 BTU system. Of course, smaller or larger homes will require different BTUs, so home and business owners should always know how much space their home or business has.
BTUS BASED ON NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS
Although most people understand the need for BTUs based on square footage, they do not always account for how many people will be occupying the space. Generally, you want to add 600 BTUs for every occupant above the first 2 in the space. This can become confusing in a commercial space and it is best to take into account the maximum occupancy rating of your space when calculating BTUs.
KORYCKI MECHANICAL INC.
Any homeowner or business owner has a lot to contend with on a daily basis and calculating the BTUs of your system when replacing an old unit should be left up to the professionals. Korycki Mechanical Inc. is the professional team of HVAC experts you have been looking for. We are in the business of understanding the ins and outs of BTUs and what they mean to your overall comfort. Whether you own a business or are just looking for residential HVAC services, Korycki Mechanical Inc. can help. Contact us today for all your HVAC repair, maintenance, and replacement needs. Does your home or business have the right BTUs?
