Have you been thinking about upgrading your heating or cooling system? If so, one of the first steps your HVAC contractor will take is performing a load calculation for your Indianapolis area home. Here’s how a properly done load calculation can help to provide the right system for your home, improving home comfort and energy efficiency.
Why are load calculations so important?
A heating or cooling system that’s too big for your home will cycle on and off frequently, providing uneven conditioning and wasting energy. An oversized system may also struggle to dehumidify your space, leading to poor indoor air quality, with the potential for mold and mildew. An undersized system, on the other hand, will strain under the heating or cooling loads placed on it, resulting in breakdowns.
Reputable contractors will be more than happy to carefully work to determine the exact-sized heating or cooling system that an individual home actually needs. In this way, you’re guaranteed that your system will run at peak efficiency while meeting your specific home comfort needs.
How do load calculations work?
Your HVAC contractor likely will use the industry standard sizing protocol, Manual J, to complete the load calculation for your home. When using Manual J, your technician will factor in a variety of details, including:
- The size of your home in cubic feet
- Number of windows and doors
- Position/orientation of your home
- Your regional climate
- Number of heat-producing household appliances
- Your home’s current insulation levels
- Air leaks and household ventilation
Among a number of other factors, these details will allow the technician to calculate the heating and cooling loads for your home, and then, with that information, the proper sized system for maximum comfort and efficiency.
For more information on load calculations, or to request a quote on a new heating or cooling system, contact the professionals at Mowery Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. We proudly serve residents of the greater Indianapolis area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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