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Every home has different heating and cooling needs. The number of windows and doors, the house’s size, and the layout all factor into just how much heating and cooling is needed to keep the house comfortable. A load calculation takes all of these elements and more into account to give an accurate measurement of exactly how much heat loss and gain your house experiences. This measurement is then translated into equipment for your home that can provide the necessary heating and cooling requirements. Load calculation determines which heating/cooling equipment is appropriate for your home and it also drives your home’s ductwork design. An inaccurate load calculation can lead to inefficient ductwork design and equipment purchases that do not match your home’s actual heating and cooling needs. An under-sized unit just can’t get the job done. And an oversized unit can’t get it done efficiently. How then do you ensure an accurate load calculation? There are three important manuals from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America to consider when having a load calculation performed: Manual J “Residential Load Calculation” is the recommended load calculation method for residential homes Manual D “Residential Duct Design” is the recommended load calculation method for ductwork design Manual S “Residential Equipment Selection” is a manual that recommends the correct heating and cooling systems to purchase based on your load calculations. Listed below are some of the factors that play into this calculation: The House Size, shape, and age Number and placement of windows Amount and type of insulation The Occupants Age and number of occupants Temperature preferences The House Location Natural Climate Humidity Average Temperatures It are important to remember that the above list is an extremely simplified version of what your ductwork design contractor will be used to determine their calculation. Make sure to ask your contractor for copies of their calculations, the reason why they are choosing the equipment they recommend, and the length of warranty they offer for their installation. Pipe Works Services has years of experience performing load calculations and ductwork design for homeowners in Sussex, Morris, Union, and Essex counties. Contact us any time with any questions you have or services you need. We’ll be glad to help. Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide. Pipe Works Services serves Chatham, NJ, and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website.
