This is the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit (F). Most heating appliances are rated in BTUs: furnaces, stoves and even the burners on your cooktop. But just BTUs is not the whole story. For example, a low efficiency heating appliance can produce lots of BTUs but not be adequate for the needs of the space to be heated. A space with very even heat can feel more much comfortable at a lower temperature then one with a high BTU heater on one side and cold surfaces on the other.

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