Understanding BTU's Part II: Space Heaters

How should BTU's factor into choosing a space heater from Gas Products Company? First you will need to consider what kind of space you are heating. If you're looking for a heater to warm a warehouse-style room in which the doors are being opened and shut frequently, you'll want to look into commercial space heaters. These heaters give out radiant heat, which means that the warmth is absorbed into the walls and other surrounding matter before being re-emitted into the room, creating a very comfortable temperature even in cavernous spaces. For more private uses such as bedrooms and homes, you'll want to choose a residential gas heater. Here's how to factor in the BTU's:

1. Choose a room and take down the measurements- in feet- of the walls and ceiling. Multiply the square footage of the room by the height of the ceiling. The number you come up with is the volume of the room, in cubic feet.

2. Multiply this number by four if the room is poorly insulated, by three if the insulation is mediocre (3.5" thick insulated walls), and by two if it is well insulated (insulated walls of 6" or more). The number you finish with will be roughly the estimated number of BTU's you need to look for in a heater.

Remember that this formula is only a rough estimate, and if you live in a colder climate you will need an even higher BTU count. Likewise, if you live in a tropical area you will need a lower BTU count, or just a lemonade with a pink paper umbrella in it.

Understanding BTU's Part I: Grills

When comparing appliances such as space heaters, air conditioners, and grills, you may be wondering what a BTU is and what role it should play in your purchase decision. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, and is in its simplest terms a measurement of energy much like a joule or a calorie. A BTU is the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. Roughly, this is approximately the heat generated by the burning of one wooden kitchen match.

So how should an appliances' BTU count factor into your decision? In the case of grills, you will want to look for a cooking BTU count of above 30,000. Typically, there should be approximately 100 BTU's for every square inch of surface cooking area. This doesn't mean that you should turn the heat up as far as it can go, but rather the BTU count is the potential for heat intensity you have available to you in your appliance. For example, you can sear a steak at a higher BTU and then lower the heat to complete cooking slowly.

However the BTU's play a role in the performance of a grill, it is more important that the construction is sound. Look for gas grills with not only a higher BTU count but ensure that the materials are of a high quality fabrication, such as stainless steel. You'll be able to enjoy a well-performing grill for many, many years to come.

What does WC mean?

When discussing gas pressure, you may come across the acronym WC or w.c., which is a measurement of pressure. WC stands for Water Column; it is a measurement based on an inch wide tube of water containing a hole at the side base of the tube. The taller the tube, the higher the pressure on the stream of water being delivered from the hole at the bottom.

For example, a 4" WC regulator refers to the pressure of the gas, not the width of the gas line. A typical 4" gas regulator can take the raw force of the typical 14" pressure of the unregulated gas line and reduce the pressure to the safe 4" WC, which is usable by an appliance. That said, most natural gas lines deliver gas to your home at a low 5-7.5" WC.