As the colder months start creeping up on us, it’s important to make sure your home’s heating system is working perfectly. If you need to replace or install a new furnace in your home, you’re probably wondering how big it needs to be. It’s a fair question to have, especially because furnaces typically last 15-20 years – and yours just might be past its prime.
How Big Does My Home’s Furnace Need to Be?
When it comes down to it, the size of your home’s furnace depends upon the square footage of your home.
Before we get into that, though, let’s make one thing clear: When we’re talking about the “size” of the furnace, what we’re really talking about is the amount of heat it can produce in an hour. This is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs) – the greater the BTU rating, the more heat the furnace can generate!
What Size Furnace Do I Need for a 1,200 Square-Foot Home?
If your home is on the small side, the good news is that you won’t need to afford an expensive, powerful furnace to keep things warm inside. Homes that are sized around 1,200 square feet and smaller typically only need furnaces rated between 36,000 and 72,000 BTUs.
What Size Furnace Do I Need for a 1,500 Square-Foot Home?
Homes that are around 1,500 square feet also won’t need the biggest furnaces on the market, but size does begin to matter here. These homes can be adequately heated with furnaces rated between 45,000 to 108,000 BTUs.
What Size Furnace Do I Need for a 2,000 Square-Foot Home?
Larger homes have more space to heat, so you’ll need a much bigger heater to handle a home that’s sized around 2,000 square feet. These homes can be heated with a furnace rated between 63,000 and 126,000 BTUs.
What Size Furnace Do I Need for a 2,500 Square-Foot Home?
If your home is larger than most others, you will need a furnace that can heat a large volume of air efficiently. Homes that are around 2,500 square feet and larger will required furnaces rated between 72,000 and 144,000 BTUs, or possibly even greater if needed.
What Happens If My Home’s Furnace Isn’t the Right Size?
If your home’s furnace is too big or too small for your home, you’ll notice it in several different ways.
Homes with underpowered furnaces can experience the following problems:
- Discomfort from uneven or insufficient heating
- High energy bills from a furnace working all the time
- Increase need for furnace maintenance and repair
- Shorter furnace life span from running too hard
Homes with overpowered furnaces can have the following issues:
- Uncomfortably hot heating
- Dryer indoor environment
- High energy bills from running a more powerful unit than necessary
- Increased need for maintenance and repair from constant cycling
Get Expert Help on Your Side
If you aren’t sure how big your home’s furnace needs to be, you can always turn to an expert from HomeWiz for help! Our commitment to high-quality service and workmanship means that we’ll help you select the right furnace for your home and install it the right way.
Learn more about all of our HVAC and other home services today by contacting us online!
