How to Calculate the Btus Needed for Water Heaters
Calculate the Btu. If you have a 40-gallon water heater, that is 40 multiplied by 8.33, or 333.2 pounds of water. So you need 333.2 Btu to raise the water 1 degree Fahrenheit. However, most areas need more than one degree of heat added to the water to make it warm enough for showering or washing clothes or dishes. Now more information is needed.