The most critical aspect of having an efficient HVAC system providing cooling and heating to your Northeast Ohio home is making sure it’s sized correctly. Manuals J and D are the industry tools for finding how large the equipment needs to be, based on the energy efficiency of your home and a variety of other factors. Manual J covers the size of the unit, while Manual D addresses the ductwork configuration and capacity.
Systems that are too large will short cycle, which means that they run for brief periods more often. In the summer, the cooling system won’t remove as much humidity. Short cycling also increases energy bills because these systems use more power at start up, when the stress on the parts is higher, leading to premature wear. In the winter, the air will heat too fast, not giving the solid objects in your home enough time to warm. If the equipment is too small, it won’t be able to keep you comfortable during weather extremes.
When a contractor performs load calculations for the equipment and the ductwork using Manuals J and D, it eliminates guesswork, which is critical to system efficiency, durability and your comfort. Going by the size of your existing equipment could be misleading, especially if you’ve made any changes to your home’s energy efficiency.
Manuals J and D take into account these factors about your home:
- Its cubic footage
- Preferred indoor temperatures
- Insulation levels in walls and attic
- Number and size of windows, their orientation to the sun and efficiency
- Air infiltration levels;
- Layout of your home including number of levels
- Heat producing appliances and lighting types
- Landscaping factors
- Number of home occupants and their ages
Once the HVAC contractor has made these calculations, he or she moves onto ductwork inspection and sizing using Manual D. It’s important to look over the ductwork because any leaks or design problems will have a measurable impact on the efficiency of the entire system.
If you’d like to learn more about Manuals J and D, please contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve provided quality HVAC services for Lorain and the surrounding area for more than 35 years.
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 Manuals J, Manual D and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area