Nothing is more important for comfort during the winter months than a furnace – the workhorse of domestic heating in the United States. However, the furnace must be the right size for it to function properly. One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is buying the wrong size furnace for their home, which can cause discomfort and unnecessary expenses.

BTUs, or British thermal units, measure how much heat a furnace can produce in an hour. One BTU is equal to the amount of energy needed to raise a pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. The size of your furnace is proportional to the BTUs.

What Factors Are Involved In Furnace Sizing?

Whenever you want to install or service a new furnace, you must talk to a company dealing with furnace maintenance in Dallas. Here is our detailed guide to helping you calculate the furnace size most appropriate for your home in order to avoid unnecessary problems in the future.

Heating repair technicians can point out that the size of your furnace does not fit your requirements if you go to them for assistance with heating repair in Dallas. The following factors are important to consider when choosing the correct furnace size:

  • Windows: If you have a lot of windows in your house, there is more scope for heat to escape. In such a case, you need to choose a system with a high heating factor range, particularly if the windows are older.

  • Sunlight exposure: Your home’s exposure to sunlight will also influence how big your heater should be. Increase the necessary capacity by 10 percent or a bigger furnace if your rooms are almost always shady. Consider a 10 percent decrease in capacity or consider a smaller furnace if the house has a lot of sun exposure.

  • The number of floors: If your house has two floors, you will need a heating unit that is not too heavy with slightly less BTU energy since the upper floor helps insulate the lower one. So it would be best if you had a smaller furnace for such houses.

  • Ceiling height: A house with high ceilings will require a big heater with higher BTU to maintain a comfortable temperature.

  • Ductwork: Incorrect ductwork and furnace size can cause problems. For example, due to insufficient space in the ductwork, a furnace’s lifespan will be shortened since it won’t have enough space to move the air it produces. If that happens, the furnace may overheat due to the restricted airflow. To prevent this from happening, make sure your furnace is properly sized according to the ductwork.

  • Roof color: Darker-colored roofs absorb more sunlight than lighter-colored roofs. Dirty roofs absorb far more energy than new, white roofs, which results in significantly different BTU usage, and you need to select your furnace accordingly.

There are many factors you need to keep in mind, but when it comes to furnace maintenance in Dallas, you should hire professionals. You will be able to figure out whether a small furnace or a large furnace would be suitable for your home. At Airtemp A/C & Heating, we provide a thorough analysis of your home that involves the insulation, duct sizes, ceiling heights, window sizes, and any other factors that influence the size of the furnace you need. Moreover, we offer excellent heat pump repairs in Dallas. Schedule your appointment on our website or call us at 214-766-3962 today!