Is 56,000 BTUs Enough for My Mobile Home? Sizing Tips & Square Footage Guidance

Sizing Tips & Square Footage Guidance

If you’re shopping for a new furnace for your mobile or manufactured home, one of the first questions that comes up is:

“Is 56,000 BTUs enough to heat my space?”

The Revolv 80 AFUE 56,000 BTU Downflow MG1E Series is one of the most popular mobile home furnaces on the market, but before you buy, you’ll want to know if this heating capacity is right for your floorplan, climate, and lifestyle.

In this guide, I’ll break down BTU sizing in plain language, give you real square footage examples, and share the exact factors I considered when choosing a mobile home furnace.

---

📏 What Does BTU Mean in Heating?

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, and in HVAC terms, it’s the standard way we measure heating output.

• 1 BTU = the energy needed to raise 1 pound of water by 1°F.

• In furnaces, the BTU rating tells you how much heat it can produce per hour.

• A 56,000 BTU furnace produces 56,000 BTUs of heat every hour.

👉 Think of BTUs like horsepower in a car. Too little and your furnace struggles to keep up. Too much and you’ll waste energy with short cycles and higher utility bills.

Learn more from the U.S. Department of Energy on heating basics.

---

🏡 Typical Mobile Home Sizes vs. BTU Needs

Most mobile homes fall into one of two categories: single-wide or double-wide.

Here’s a quick chart to show average square footage and the general BTU range needed:

👉 A 56,000 BTU furnace like the Revolv MG1E typically covers:

• Medium to large single-wides (over 1,000 sq. ft.)

• Small to mid-size double-wides (1,300–1,600 sq. ft.)

Source: EnergyStar mobile home heating guide.

---

🌡️ Factor 1: Climate Zone Matters

Square footage is only half the story. Where you live plays a huge role in how many BTUs you need.

The U.S. is divided into climate zones based on heating degree days.

So a 1,200 sq. ft. mobile home:

• In Florida (Zone 1) may only need 30,000 BTUs.

• In Ohio (Zone 3) may need closer to 50,000 BTUs.

• In Minnesota (Zone 4) could need 60,000+ BTUs.

👉 That means a 56,000 BTU furnace is perfect for northern climates in mid-size mobile homes.

Check your heating climate zone here.

---

🏗️ Factor 2: Insulation & Mobile Home Age

Not all mobile homes are built the same.

• Older pre-1976 homes (before HUD standards): usually have poor insulation and leaky windows. They’ll need more BTUs for the same square footage.

• Modern HUD-certified homes (post-1976): tighter insulation, double-pane windows, better duct sealing. They can use fewer BTUs per sq. ft..

👉 Tony’s tip: If your home is drafty, don’t just oversize the furnace. Seal ducts, upgrade insulation, and add storm windows. You’ll save way more on bills.

HUD Manufactured Home Standards overview.

---

🔄 Factor 3: Furnace Efficiency (AFUE)

BTU ratings come in two flavors:

• Input BTUs = how much fuel the furnace burns.

• Output BTUs = how much usable heat you actually get.

The Revolv MG1E is rated 80 AFUE, meaning it delivers 80% of input BTUs as heat.

• 56,000 input BTUs × 80% = 44,800 output BTUs to your home.

👉 Always check output BTUs when comparing furnaces.

Learn more about AFUE from Energy.gov.

---

📋 Example Sizing Scenarios

Here’s how a 56,000 BTU furnace performs in real-world mobile homes:

Example 1: Single-Wide, 1,000 Sq. Ft., Zone 2 (Mild)

• Needs ~32,000 BTUs.

• 56k BTU furnace is oversized. May short-cycle.

Example 2: Double-Wide, 1,500 Sq. Ft., Zone 3 (Cold)

• Needs ~67,000 BTUs.

• 56k BTU furnace is slightly undersized. Might struggle on very cold nights.

Example 3: Double-Wide, 1,400 Sq. Ft., Zone 2 (Mild)

• Needs ~49,000 BTUs.

• 56k BTU furnace is perfect match.

---

⚖️ Dangers of Over- and Under-Sizing

Tony learned this the hard way in his first home.

• Too Big: Furnace short cycles → higher wear, noisy, uneven temps, higher bills.

• Too Small: Furnace runs non-stop → can’t keep up, cold rooms, shortened lifespan.

👉 Proper sizing is always about balance.

HVAC.com explains oversizing vs. undersizing issues.

---

🔧 How to Calculate BTU Needs for Your Home

Here’s a quick formula you can use:

Home Sq. Ft. × BTUs per Sq. Ft. (based on climate) = Furnace Size

Example:
1,300 sq. ft. home × 40 BTU/sq. ft. (Zone 3) = 52,000 BTUs needed.

👉 That’s right in the sweet spot for a 56,000 BTU furnace.

Try the EnergyStar home heating calculator.

---

🛠️ Professional Load Calculation (Manual J)

For the most accurate sizing, HVAC contractors use Manual J load calculations.

This method considers:

• Square footage

• Insulation & window quality

• Air leakage

• Local climate data

• Duct efficiency

👉 If you’re on the fence, get a contractor to run Manual J before buying.

ACCA Manual J guide.

---

🏆 When 56,000 BTUs Is the Right Choice

Based on everything above, here’s when this furnace is a perfect fit:

• Mobile homes between 1,200–1,600 sq. ft.

• Located in Zone 2–3 climates (mild to cold)

• Homes with average insulation quality

It may not be the best fit for:

• Very small homes under 1,000 sq. ft.

• Very large double-wides over 1,800 sq. ft. in cold climates

• Extremely drafty or uninsulated homes

---

📊 Cost & Energy Savings

Because the Revolv MG1E is 80 AFUE, it’s not the highest efficiency furnace (modern gas furnaces go up to 96–98%).

But here’s why it’s still a smart choice:

• Lower upfront cost (cheaper than high-efficiency models).

• Perfectly sized for most mobile homes.

• Easier to install in HUD-approved manufactured housing.

Compare AFUE ratings and costs with the DOE efficiency guide.

---

🔑 Key Takeaways

• BTUs = furnace horsepower. 56,000 is a mid-range size, good for most mobile homes.

• Match to square footage AND climate zone.

• Consider insulation, age of home, and AFUE efficiency.

• When in doubt, get a Manual J load calc from a pro.

👉 For many double-wide mobile homes in the Northeast or Midwest, the Revolv 56,000 BTU MG1E is a rock-solid fit.

---