
How many BTU per hour does a water heater use?
With this, we can calculate how much propane does such a big tankless propane heater use per hour. Here’s the calculation: Propane Used In 1 Hour = 199,000 BTU (Heater Capacity) / 91,452 BTU per gallon = 2.18 Gallons of Propane That means that the biggest propane tankless water heater will burn 2.18 gallons of propane per hour (at 100% output).
What is the formula for BTU?
- Multiply the burner efficiency by the energy content of the gas being used.
- Determine the burner output in BTUs per hour from the appliance sticker or user documentation.
- Divide the BTUs per hour by the fuel energy content.
What is the highest BTU natural gas heater?
- BEST OVERALL: Mr. Heater 30,000 BTU Vent Free Natural Gas Heater
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Mr. Heater MH-F232000 Portable Buddy 9,000 BTU
- BEST FOR LARGE SPACES: Mr. Heater F260560 Big Maxx Natural Gas Unit Heater
- BEST NATURAL GAS: Dyna-Glo 30,000 BTU Natural Gas Vent Free Wall Heater
- ALSO CONSIDER: Mr. Heater F260550 Big Maxx Natural Gas Unit Heater
What is a BTU and a Watt?
BTU and Watt are two different types of measurement units to measure the energy transfer and power, respectively. Thus, the key difference between BTU and Watts is that BTU measures energy, which is a stand-alone physical property whereas Watts measures the rate of transfer of energy that is always associated with a time factor. ...

How many BTU's do I need for my hot water heater?
Input ranges from about 32,000 on a 30-gallon unit to 88,000 on a 100-gallon tank. A common input is 34,000 BTUs on a 40-gallon tank and 36,000 BTUs on a 50-gallon tank. The higher the BTU input and efficiency, the faster the recovery. Electric water heaters typically have one 5,500-watt or two 4,500-watt elements.
What does higher BTU on water heater mean?
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.
How many BTUs is a 50-gallon water heater?
Configuration and OverviewNominal Capacity: ?Nominal capacity is the representative number pursuant to the safety standard certification process for water heaters50Limited Warranty Parts:12 yearsBTU Input:40000 BTUsWater Connection Location:TopWater Connection Size:3/4"7 more rows
Is the higher the BTU better or worse?
BTUs are the energy used to remove heat from a room. Therefore, the more BTUs an air conditioner unit has, the better equipped it is to cool a larger space.
What should I look for in a new water heater?
7 Things to Consider When Choosing a New Water HeaterQuality of the Tank and Heating Element. ... What type of fuel does my hot water heater require? ... Should I rent or buy a water heater? ... Where will it be located? ... Should I choose a tank or tankless water heater? ... What capacity does my household need? ... Is it energy-efficient?
What happens if your water heater is too big?
An oversized water heater heats more hot water than your household needs, which wastes energy. With a tank water heater that stores hot water for use, energy is also wasted storing more hot water than is used at any given time.
How does BTU affect water heater?
A common input is 34,000 BTUs on a 40-gallon tank and 36,000 BTUs on a 50-gallon tank. The higher the BTU input and efficiency, the faster the recovery. The BTU input can be found on the manufacture's ID plate on the side of the water heater.
Is a bigger water heater better?
Bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to choosing the size of a water heater. If you install a tank that's too small, you'll run out of hot water before finishing the shower. And if you get a tank that's too big, you're wasting money on heating water they won't use.
How does BTU affect water heater?
A common input is 34,000 BTUs on a 40-gallon tank and 36,000 BTUs on a 50-gallon tank. The higher the BTU input and efficiency, the faster the recovery. The BTU input can be found on the manufacture's ID plate on the side of the water heater.
Which is better 40 or 50 gallon water heater?
Typically, the rule-of-thumb is that you want a 40 gallon tank for 1 to 4 people, a 50 gallon tank for 4 to 6 people, and a 50 gallon high recovery or 75 gallon tank for 6 to 8 people. Energy consumption for 40 and 50 gallon standard water heaters is quite comparable.
How many BTU do I need?
Generally, your temperature control system should have 20 BTU for every square foot of living space in the area you wish to heat or cool. For example, if your room or area is 400 square feet in size, then you should opt for a temperature control system with a capability of around 8,000 BTU.
How do I know what size hot water heater I need?
You can estimate the necessary tank capacity (in gallons) based on the number of people in the house:1 or 2 people—23 to 36 gallons.2 to 4 people—36 to 46 gallons.3 to 5 people—46 to 56 gallons.5 or more people—over 56 gallons (add 10 gallons per additional person)
How Many BTUs Does My Water Heater Use?
A simple way to visualize a BTU is to think of it as the amount of heat energy generated by a single, 4-inch wooden matchstick while it burns through. Thankfully, your domestic hot water supply doesn’t rely on someone burning matchsticks under your home water heater… else, there’d be a longish wait for that shower!
How Many BTUs Do I Get Per Unit of Energy?
Natural gas yields the lowest BTUs per cubic foot (approx. 1000), followed by electricity, while fuels like propane and gasoline provide close r to 100,000 BTUs per unit, and wood yields about 20 million BTUs per cord.
What is a BTU water heater?
One of the most important factors, however, is how many BTUs it has. Short for British Thermal Unit, a BTU is a unit of energy.
What does BTU mean in heating?
The higher the level of BTU, the more heating power that the unit possesses. BTU for appliances is generally used to quantify the heating and cooling ability of that unit. You will see BTU referenced not only for water heaters, but for air conditioners, and any other type of similar equipment used in the home.
What is a BTU?
This is a measurement of the quantity of heat that is required to raise a single pound of water by a single degree Fahrenheit. The higher the level of BTU, the more heating power that the unit possesses.
How many BTU per gallon of water?
Using the information from the tag or sticker, you can make your equation. It takes a single BTU per each pound of water to elevate the temperature a single degree Fahrenheit. A standard water heater in America is 40 gallons, with each gallon weighing 8.33 pounds.
How much water does a 36,000 BTU water heater heat?
So, if you were to have a 36,000 BTU water heater, it is capable of heating up to 36,000 pounds of water by a single degree each hour. That equates to 360 pounds by 100 degrees.
What is the difference between a 36,000 BTU water heater and a 40,000 BTU water heater?
The 36,000 BTU water heater is about 40 gallons while the 40,000 BTU water heater is around 50 gallons.
How many gallons is a 40,000 BTU water heater?
The 36,000 BTU water heater is about 40 gallons while the 40,000 BTU water heater is around 50 gallons.
The Cost of Heating Water
The first snowstorm of the year arrived early in Ohio. Just out of bed before 5 am on that day, I was greeted by the warm tile floors in our master bathroom. My high-flow showerhead warmed me even more. Efficiency is not the priority in our bathroom, comfort is!
The Formula
Math is the key to understanding how BTUs move through a system. The simple formula for water is:
Calculate Pump Pressure and Plotting GPM
For the purposes of this article and since we will only be considering the basics, let’s take a look at calculating pump pressure and plotting GPM in a residential hydronic heating system. We could discuss far more accurate methods, but this is a starting point; call it an initial performance test for beginners.
System Temperature Measurement
To be completely accurate, a submersion thermometer should be inserted into the water.
Calculate System Delivered BTU
To find the system-delivered BTU, multiply the BTU multiplier of 500 x the estimated Pump GPM x the System Temperature Change.
