Calculation for heat supply to a given area

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Idoc4u

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Is there a tabel, nomogram, or some directive regarding standards for supplying heat to a given square foot area or cubic foot area of a room in a home?

I am wanting to supply adequate heat to a look-out basement in a home that is new construction, well insulated with a usable area of about 600 ft sq.

I have installed 2 six inch round duct supplies overhead (wasn't possible to run down the wall) about 12 ft apart to the area in question and have a return duct in place.

I am thinking about adding electric baseboard heat or a gas or electric fireplace to supplement as it would seem that the supply that I have is unlikely to be adequate. It is not possible to add additional duct work in the area.

Does anyone know of some rule of thumb or guide for calculating functional heat needed for a given area?

A vented or ventless gas fireplace would seem to fit the need well, since electric takes time to heat up and gas will be very quick.

Thank you.
 

Jimbo

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Any good heating/a/c contractor can do the necessary calculations. It is not rocket science, but neither is it a number you can pull out of wherever. Today, most guys will have the manual J on their laptop. You plug in square feet, ceiling height, types of insulation, square inches of glass, climate ranges for your locale....you get the idea.

Like I say, it is fairly easily done, but if you just guess and screw it up, you will be uncomfortable and wasting energy, forever!
 

Furd

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Do a Google search for heat loss calculation and you will get several hits. Most will be for a software package or a short period of time on a fee basis but there are some free ones. The more information (and the better the information) the closer you will come to the proper BTU requirement. Use of any "rule of thumb" will most likely vastly overestimate the requirements.

As stated in the other thread, don't even consider a ventless gas heater option.
 
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