How to Size a Boiler System

When installing a new heating system in your home, it is important that you purchase and install the proper-sized boiler. A boiler that is too small will not provide adequate heat for your home, while a boiler that is too large will be costly to operate. Determining the proper boiler size for your home is an easy task.

Things You Will Need:

• Pen


• Paper


• Tape measure


• Calculator

1. Determine the type of insulation that you have in your home. Old insulation and single-pane windows are less energy efficient and might require you to install a larger boiler. If your house is fairly new and features modern insulation and double-glazed windows, you can often get by with a smaller boiler. Certain home features, such as fireplaces and chimneys, can require you to install a larger boiler, as well. Make note of any extenuating features that may be present in your home.


2. Measure the rooms that you need to heat. You will need to measure the length, width and ceiling height of all of the rooms that will be heated by the new boiler. Write these dimensions down on your pad of paper. Label each room's name next to its measurements.


3. Determine the square footage of each room. This is a simple calculation that is done by multiplying the length of a room by its width. A room that is 12 feet by 12 feet will have a square footage of 144 feet.


4. Calculate the boiler's BTU. You can find a basic BTU calculator online. Simply plug in the requested information and hit "Calculate" to determine the specific BTU wattage that you will need to heat your home.


5. Use the BTU calculation to purchase the appropriate boiler to heat your space.