Load calculation is a commonly-used term in the HVAC industry, and it’s one that you should understand before you make a heating or cooling equipment purchase. Load calculations are important because they’re the most measurement tool an HVAC installer can use to select the right equipment capacity to properly heat or cool your home. Here’s a brief primer on how load calculations are performed and why they matter.
HVAC Load Calculations 101
HVAC installers used to use a vague “rule of thumb” for sizing new equipment based loosely on the square footage of a home. It was common practice for HVAC contractors to add on a few extra hundred square feet, so many systems installed in the past were considerably oversized.
Nowadays, HVAC professionals don’t rely on estimates to size new equipment. Instead, they use Manual J software that performs detailed load calculations. The software calculates the needed capacity based on the climate region and indoor/outdoor design conditions, plus data unique to your home including:
- Size and orientation.
- Insulation levels.
- Size, type and location of windows.
- Air infiltration.
- Number of occupants.
- Lighting.
- Heat-generating appliances.
Why Using Load Calculations to Size HVAC Equipment Matters
Having your new HVAC equipment sized correctly using Manual J load calculations prevents issues that can develop due to over-sizing and provides numerous benefits that relate to:
- Efficiency. Properly-sized equipment uses less energy to heat or cool your home, so you avoid paying unnecessarily high operating costs.
- Comfort. Running oversized HVAC equipment can result in poor humidity control and hot or cold spots, while equipment with the correct capacity can keep humidity in check and maintain a consistent temperature.
- Lifespan. Oversized components tend to short cycle, which adds strain and wear and can shorten their expected lifespan. These problems won’t occur with a correctly-sized HVAC system.
- Upfront cost. Larger-sized HVAC equipment has a higher price tag, so having the needed capacity correctly assessed with a load calculation can help save you money.
To learn more about accurately sizing HVAC equipment for your Lorain home using a detailed load calculation, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about load calculations and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area