subject: Hvac Design Done Right - How Manual J, S & D Compliments The Process [print this page] If a home's air conditioning system is more than 10 years old, chances are it is a lot less energy efficient than a newer system would be. If it is time to consider replacing that old AC unit then it is a good idea to have a qualified professional evaluate the home's overall HVAC design. It is critical to choose a heating or cooling system that will provide low maintenance and utility costs while providing outstanding efficiency. A common error that homeowners make is in choosing a system that is bigger than the home needs. An air conditioner that is too large will not run long enough to properly remove the humidity from the atmosphere.
The use of ACCA certified Manual J load calculations will help a contractor to best evaluate the needs of a home. If the installer is simply installing a new heating or cooling system that matches the output of the old one there is a good chance that the system will not function as efficiently as one that has been properly sized would. A Manual J summary provides information regarding the heat loss and gain for the entire house. This information is vital when it comes to choosing the right overall system.
Using a Manual J report, a contractor can then use Manual D in order to determine the correct duct design for the home. This will ensure that each room gets the proper amount of warm or cool in air to maximize the effectiveness of the installed system. It is a good idea to have the ductwork examined if the home is in need of a new air conditioner or furnace. Even if the duct work has been optimally designed, there still may be leaks or damage that should be addressed.
Manual S can be used by a knowledgeable professional in deciding what equipment is the proper size for the home. Choosing the right size heating or cooling equipment will not only provide immediate cost savings since oversized equipment is much more expensive, but will provide long lasting cost savings since the right size equipment will not become an unnecessary drain when it comes to energy usage.
A Manual D duct design gets very intricate with its sizing calculations. There are many different sizes and different kinds of ducts. Some of them are VAV systems, both the multiple zone and the two-story ones. There is also a system that has VAV dampers. Some systems are set up to handle constant volume and others need more flexible ducts. Manual D duct design techniques also teaches you about the potential problems and things that can go wrong with ducts. Sometimes leaking of the ducts can lead to duct losses and that can adversely affect the quality of the air in the building. Likewise, you will learn in Manual D procedure about the enveloping equipment system and how to synch its performance with the overall duct system
Choosing a qualified and knowledgeable contractor when it comes to replacing or upgrading the comfort system in a home can deliver long lasting results which will be felt by the homeowner for years to come.
