1. What is Heated Square Footage?

Heated square footage refers to the total area of all rooms in a property that are heated by the main heating system. This includes living spaces but typically excludes garages, porches, and unfinished basements.

2. How to Calculate Heated Area

The calculation is simple:

Steps:

1. Measure the length and width of each heated room
2. Multiply length by width for each room
3. Sum the areas of all heated rooms

3. Importance of Heated Area Calculation

Details: Heated square footage is crucial for property valuation, energy efficiency assessments, heating system sizing, and real estate listings. It provides a more accurate measure of usable living space than total square footage.

4. Using the Calculator

Instructions: Enter the number of heated rooms, then provide length and width for each room. The calculator will sum all room areas to give total heated square footage.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What counts as a heated room?
A: Any room with direct heat from the main heating system, including living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and finished basements with heat.

Q2: Should closets be included?
A: Yes, if they're within the heated envelope of the home and share the same heating system.

Q3: How does this differ from total square footage?
A: Total square footage includes all areas under roof, while heated square footage only includes spaces with active heating.

Q4: Why is heated area important for buyers?
A: It indicates the actual livable space and helps estimate heating costs and comfort levels.

Q5: How accurate should measurements be?
A: For real estate purposes, measurements should be to the nearest inch. For estimates, nearest foot is acceptable.