Common
measurements
I
recently had the opportunity to go shopping for a new stove.
Sometimes when we are looking at certain appliances or yard work, we
come across references to cubic measurements. Most people can get
very flustered. Measurements can be confusing. When we are in a store
looking at stoves for instance, some measurements will say 30 inches,
and some will say 5 cu ft. What do these measurements mean?
This
is a graphic of what a standalone or a slide in stove looks like.
When
you see a stove advertised in inches, this refers to the width of the
stove. This is good for those who need a slide in unit that will only
fit in a certain space. Measure across the front of the space, this
tells you how big a unit will fit.
Cubic
Feet
When
you see a unit measured in cubic feet. This refers to the inside
measurements of length, width, and height, or the volume of your
unit. The important thing to remember is that you need to get the
measurements inside the unit. This works for both stoves and
refrigerators.
Remember
that area refers to length x width. To get the cubic measurement, you
need to multiply length x width x height. If you have measured in
inches, this will give you cubic inches. To get cubic feet, simply
divide your answer by 1728. 1728 is 12" x 12" x 12",
For
example:
You
want a free standing stove. Your current stove measurements inside
the oven area are 18" for the length, 16" for the width,
and 23" for the height.
Multiply.
18 x 16 x 23 = 6624 cubic inches. Divide. 6624/1728 = 3.8 cubic feet.
This is how big your current stove volume is. Now you can decide how
big you would like your new stove to be. If you have measured in
feet, make sure you measure to the second decimal or the hundredths
place.
For
example:
16
inches = 1.33 feet
18
inches = 1.5 feet
23
inches = 1.91 feet
If
you just multiply 1.3 x 1.5 x 1.9, you will get 3.7 cubic feet which
is close, but not quite accurate enough. The second decimal is
important. 1.33 x 1.5 x 1.91 = 3.81 which rounds to 3.8. This is more
accurate and will give you a much better idea of the measurements
inside your oven. This can be especially important if you are
ordering online. Amazon.com. In the title of the item you may see 5
cu ft. When you look for more information however, the product
dimensions tell you the outside dimensions of the stove such as 27.7
x 29.9 x 46.9. The outside dimensions come to 22.5 cu feet. The 5 cu
ft refers to the inside volume of the oven.
Remember
that a stove can have the same dimensions outside, and yet have
different volume dimensions inside the oven. Each manufacturer can be
different.
Hopefully,
this information helps you understand more about what you are looking
at when you go hunting for your new appliance.
