Will a 55,000 BTU direct vent forced air wall heater work to heat a 940 square foot home?

Question

I had a floor furnace give out.  I was thinking about replacing it with a wall heater.  The heater I'm looking at is natural gas, direct vent 55,000 BTU.  The house was estimated to be 940 square feet with the main section being a square shape and pretty much open.  That floor furnace could seriously make the main section of the house hot and it could hold 70 degrees fahrenheit on a cold winter day easy.

I don't want to have to install ductwork, so I would have forced air from a single location.  Ceiling height is about 9 foot.  I do have 2 ceiling fans to help circulate air.

This is a single sided heater that sits up against an exterior wall and vents through the wall to the outside.  I can order one myself and have it delivered for about 1/3 the cost the contractor wants and the contractor won't even hook up the gas line.

Update:

We've only just used the first floor.  The upstairs is just one big room used for storage.  I like the 55,000 BTU unit because it's available with an intermittent pilot.

Answer 1

Construction and zone are what are used to determine BTU requirements.

I'm in Ma, for 1000 square feet for averse construction. That should be right around what is needed.

Answer 2

The house was estimated to be 940 square feet

TROLL FAIL. The one thing absolutely KNOWN is the EXACT square footage.

Note: There is NO SUCH THING as an intermittent pilot. You either have a STANDING pilot, or an electronic ignition and NO pilot.

That said, the VAST majority of gas furnaces available in the last decade are available with an electronic ignition.

Answer 3

you need to get an evaluation by a professional.  climate and insulation make a huge difference -- and we know zip all about either in your case.

Answer 4

A furnace in the floor/crawl space is more effective.

Answer 5

You'll burn your house down and you will void your insurance.  You need to hire a professional.  Period.

Answer 6

Not an expert but I'd say just the first floor, unless you open all vents. Better than overheating though.