Heat Selection Guide

We recommend  0 Watts
Square Footage of Room
Newer Home Watts
Older Home Watts
50
300
500
75
450
750
100
600
1000
125
750
1250
150
900
1500
175
1050
1750
200
1200
2000
225
1350
2250
250
1500
2500
275
1650
2750
300
1800
3000
325
1950
3250
350
2100
3500
375
2250
3750
400
2400
4000
Know Your Voltage
Before buying the heater of your choice, you must know the voltage at connection. You must know whether you have 120 volt or 240 volt power supply. (Note: Most neon light testing devices only indicate power to the supply line, not the voltage.) Ways to check your voltage:

  • Check Breaker - Single Pole is 120 volt; Double Pole is 240 volt.

  • If replacing an old heater - Identify voltage on old heater label.

  • The most accurate way to check the voltage supply is with a voltmeter. WARNING! This test will have to be performed with the circuit breaker 'on'. If you are uncomfortable working with live electrical circuits, please consult an electrician. Set your meter to measure AC Volts, and carefully touch each test lead to a supply wire. To avoid electrical shock, only touch the supply wires with the test leads and only hold test probe by handle or grip! The meter will indicate the voltage between the two wires. Caution: Be sure you are measuring the voltage between the two supply conductors, not the voltage between a supply conductor and the ground conductor, which would not give the correct supply voltage.
Know Your Wattage
Step 1: AGE OF HOME
Select column with age of your home - A heat loss calculation should be performed if your home falls outside of these standards.

  • Newer home- mostly 1980's to present, R19 walls, R30 floors and ceilings, standard windows thermal pane, 8ft ceilings

  • Older home - Prior to 1980, R11 walls, R19 ceilings, single pane windows, 9ft ceilings


Step 2: SIZE OF ROOM
Select row with closest square footage for room you want to heat.

  • Rooms with greater than average window space, increase wattage by 50%

  • If wattage recommendation falls between two heaters, select the heater with higher wattage


Step 3: GENERAL RULE OF THUMB
This Selection Guide recommends approximately 6 watts per square foot for newer homes and 10 watts per square foot for older homes. If you live in a higher altitude / colder climate, we recommend adding 2 watts per square foot.

IMPORTANT CIRCUIT
INFORMATION!

CHECK AND ABIDE BY ALL
ELECTRICAL SAFETY CODES

Circuits must be derated by 20% A SAFETY CODE REQUIREMENT. Maximum wattage allowed on a circuit is calculated by multiplying the derated amps by the voltage.

Example:
20 amp circuit with 240 volt application
1. 20 amps x 20% = 4 amps
2. 20 amps - 4 amps = 16 amps (max allowed)
3. 16 amps x 240 volts = 3,840 watts (max allowed)

HEATING CIRCUIT HINTS

I. When connecting a heater to 120 volts:
• Use a 20 amp single pole circuit breaker
• Use 12/2 with ground wire
• Electrical code restricts max load to 1,500 watts
• Do not add more than 1,000 watts to existing circuits
II. When connecting a heater to 240 volts using:
a) A 20 amp double pole circuit breaker,
• 3,840 watts is max load allowed on a circuit
• Use 12/2 with ground wire
b) A 30 amp double pole circuit breaker,
• 5,760 watts is max load allowed on a circuit
• Use 10/2 with ground wire