Working out which size radiator you need for your home is essential in making sure you are efficiently heating up your rooms. Getting a radiator that isn’t right for your room or your home, can mean higher costs and wasted energy.

To make sure you get the right size radiator for your room, you need to use a BTU calculator.

What is a BTU calculator?

The BTU (British Thermal Unit) calculator is a brilliant way to figure out exactly how much power your radiator needs to have. There are numerous factors, which can have an effect on the BTU, such as room dimensions, heat levels and types of windows. Bigger rooms will of course need more heat, but a higher number of widows will mean a room will lose heat faster, meaning the amount of heat needed will also be higher. As well as the number of windows, the type of window makes a big different. Single or double glazed, the size of the window or style can make a significant difference. Additionally, the location of the room in the house will make a difference. Is there insulation? Is the room facing the sun? How many outdoor walls does it have? The BTU calculator takes this all into account, and gives you a measurement for your specific room so you can get the right radiator for you to heat your home.

How is BTU calculated?

BTU considers numerous aspects of your room to ensure you get the right amount of heat for the space. To measure a rooms BTU requirements, we must add up the cubic volume of space, which includes the height, length, and width of the space multiplied by four, in addition to the surroundings, such as what is below, besides and above the room, and features like doors and windows which could be sources of heat loss. After collecting all this information and using a BTU calculator, we are then able to predict the expected heat loss, for your room, whilst offering you a BTU output, enabling you to heat your space efficiently and select a radiator accordingly. 

Why is it vital to calculate the correct btu output?

If the calculation is not done correctly, it could be costly and end up wasting energy. If the radiator is too small, it will not supply enough heat to heat the room. On the other hand, if the radiator is too big, it will provide an unnecessary amount of heat, wasting both energy and money. Overheating or underheating your room would make your home uncomfortable, being either too hot or too cold. It may also end up costing you more, whether it be on your energy bills, or additional resources to keep you warm. Using a BTU calculator means you can calculate the exact amount of heat you need, and find a radiator to fit that level.

What sizes are available?

Radiators come in all shapes and sizes for all kinds of spaces. Standard radiator sizes have a height of between 300 – 1800mm, and widths between 200 – 2000mm. Between these, there is a range of dimensions to fit every space in any room, with radiators of all shapes and sizes available. As stated above, it is essential to work out the BTU and how much heat your room needs before deciding which radiator would be the best.