subject: Residential Heating And Air Conditioning Sizing And Acca Manual J Load Calculation Reports [print this page] Proper residential HVAC sizing is directly related to a contractor understanding and using the information produced by ACCA certified Manual J8 load calculations. The data produced by these reports enable a skilled and competent contractor to determine the correct size and design of an HVA C system in order to obtain the best possible comfort for a home or while obtaining the greatest possible cost savings. Contractors who do not use Manual J calculations often mistakenly install HVAC equipment that is undersized or, more often, oversized. This creates a comfortsystem that is inefficient as well as expensive for the homeowner.
It is very important to size the HVAC system properly. If the unit is too small, it will not condition the house fast enough, on the other hand, if it is oversized, it will condition the house too fast without properly dehumidifying the room. Often contractors use rules-of-thumb to figure out the size of the furnace unit, without considering some important variables such as, the internal heat gain and loss, moisture content, orientation of the house, ventilation and infiltration, resulting an overly-sized heating system.
HVAC design should be dependent on the requirements of the particular building or home. This means installing a comfort system that works in the most effective way possible while using no more energy than is absolutely necessary. A system that is undersized will have to run continuously and will be subject to frequent breakdowns and repairs. If a system is oversized, the temperature inside the home is likely to fluctuate widely as well as have a moist or clammy feel to it. An oversize system is also likely to require more frequent maintenance since it will be running much more inefficiently.
The data provided by ACCA Manual J reports will also make it easier for a contractor to correctly design and install the duct system. Manual D duct design is used by competent HVAC contractors to install ductwork that provides exactly the right amount of cfm to each room of the house. This guarentees that no room is getting too much or too little heated or cooled air. By evenly heating and cooling a home a system is able to function much more effectively. The duct design plays a large role in how well a comfort system performs.
Manual S equipment selection is also impacted by Manual J reports. By hiring a contractor who understands and utilizes this type of trusted calculating and reporting system, a homeowner can rest assure that the individual installing their HVAC system is competent and qualified to deliver excellent results. A system that functions efficiently uses less energy which means it is more economical to run in the long term. Those are the kinds of results that every homeowner is hoping to achieve when they upgrade or replace their heating or cooling system. The information provided by Manual J reports can help a contractor install a system that will provide years of trouble free and reliable results.
