Q: What is a BTU ?
A: BTU stands for
British Thermal Unit. It is the industry standard unit of measurement for heat quantity. 1
BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water at its
maximum density by 1 degree Fahrenheit:
1 BTU is 0.293 watts (watts per hour) (0.29296875)
1 watt is 3.412 BTU
1 US gallon of propane provides 92,000 BTU
1 cubic foot of natural gas provides 1,000 BTU
Q: When Is It Time to
Retire An Old Heater?
A: If heater is missing the modern safety features, such as overheating
protection and tip-over shutoff. Here are other signs that a heater is past its prime:
 The case is dented,
metal is corroded, or plastic is melted. This could indicate internal damage.
The grill is bent. If
you can reach the heating element, get rid of the heater.
You see split or
frayed wires at either end of the cord. Or, the plug blades are bent and don't fit
securely in the socket.
It doesn't bear the "UL listed" mark, or a mark from ETL or a similar independent testing lab.
Without these labels, the heater may lack basic safety features. |
