16
WHERE CAN YOU INSTALL THIS APPLIANCE?
Choosing a suitable appliance for your install location is key to getting optimal performance out of it. Assess the appliance’s
requirements and the install location carefully to make sure it can accommodate all the manufacturers install requirements. Please pay
close attention to the safety clearances, min. and max. chimney lengths, fuel and power hookup requirements stipulated in this
manual. Failure to meet one or more of these install requirements may result in unsatisfactory or unreliable operation of the appliance.
Please note that Dickinson bear no responsibility for unsatisfactory performance damage or loss resulting from non-
conforming product installations that do not meet the requirements in this manual.
A natural draft diesel appliance can be used as a source of heat,
a source of hot water with a coil installed, and as a cooking
appliance if it features an oven or cooking surface. If the
appliance is going to be the main or only source of heat, it will
be necessary to verify that it provides enough BTU to
comfortably heat the space it is intended for.
What is BTU?
BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. 1 BTU is roughly the
equivalent of the amount of energy that is released when you
light one match. This is roughly enough heat energy to heat 1
pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. BTU is the energy unit
most commonly used in the calculating of AC and heating
requirements.
Basic BTU calculation
As a general rule of thumb, for every square foot of the space
you wish to heat you’ll need roughly 20 BTU of heat energy.
This estimate makes a few assumptions however, it assumes
that;
• The space has a standard ceiling height of between 7-9 feet
• The space is well insulated with minimal heat loss
• The space is located in a climate zone without extreme
temperature lows
Provided that the proposed install location falls within these
criteria, the formula below can be used to work out the
approximate BTU required to heat a space.
No. of sq ft. x 20 = approximate requirement in BTU
Example: 800 (sq ft.) x 20 = 16,000 (BTU)
This calculation tells us that a natural draft diesel appliance with
a 6 inch burner, running on high and generating just over
16,000 BTU/hr meets the minimum requirements to serve as a
primary heat source for a well insulated, 800 sq ft. space
located in a temperate climate.
On the higher capacity end, a natural draft diesel appliance with
a 7 inch burner, running on high and generating just over
24,000 BTU/hr meets the minimum requirements to serve as a
primary heat source for a well insulated, 1,200 sq ft. space
located in a temperate climate.
HEATING CAPACITY
Other Factors
Several factors need to taken into account when calculating the
BTU needs and possible variations for the space you wish to heat.
Some of the factors mentioned below are more obvious than
others, but all of them have the potential to affect how efficiently
and reliably the appliance will be able to heat the space.
Insulation condition: Insulation condition is an assessment of
how well insulated a structure or vehicle is. This will depend on
the thickness and type of insulation used, it’s rated R-value, it’s
age and condition. An older home will likely have less effective or
degraded insulation compared to a newer home insulated with
newer, modern materials.
Windows: Windows typically have poor thermal resistance
compared to walls even if a space is well insulated. Poorly fitting
window frames will also lead to heat loss. Double glazed windows
will help retain more heat where applicable. The use of thermal
curtain liners can help to reduce heat loss.
Climate: the BTU needed to heat a given space will vary
Depending on the climate zone. For example, heating a well
insulated space with minimal heat loss in Atlanta, Georgia will
require less BTU overall than it will take to heat the same well
insulated space if it was located in Anchorage, Alaska.
Number of inhabitants: Every inhabitant (human and animal)
sharing the space will dissipate body heat, contributing to a
temperature increases. This effect is more noticeable in smaller
rather than larger structures.
Dead spots: In order to heat a room, the hot air introduced and
the colder air present must be able to flow freely. Dead spots in
the room where air movement is reduced by partitions or the
placement of furniture can prevent this from happening.
Interior Chimney length: A Dickinson diesel appliance chimney
is made of single walled, stainless steel pipe. The single walled
pipe radiates more heat that an insulated double walled pipe
would, meaning much more of the heat you’re able to produce
remains in the cabin instead of being lost up the chimney. A
greater length of interior chimney means more heat available to
heat the space.
To Next Page
Loading...
