When installing a new air conditioner, bigger is not always better. Having your HVAC systems properly sized through the use of software protocols Manual J and Manual D is necessary for ensuring efficiency and performance. Here’s a look at how your HVAC estimator will use these calculations, and why you should insist that they use them before installing a new A/C or heat pump system for your Wichita area home.

HVAC professionals utilize load calculation tools to ensure that your heating and cooling equipment will meet your precise heating and cooling demands. Manual J considers a variety of factors to determine how much cooling or heating is required to make your home comfortable in summer and winter, respectively. Manual D is important in new construction, as it helps in designing ductwork that can keep up with the home’s cooling and heating systems.

Manual J is based upon a complex series of calculations that consider these factors and more:

  • Cubic footage of home
  • Orientation of home
  • Local climate
  • Number of windows
  • Duct leakage
  • Insulation levels
  • Heat-producing appliances
  • Number of household occupants

Manual D calculations are then based up on the heat loss/gain numbers that are supplied by Manual J calculations.

What are the benefits?

  • Efficiency – Oversized systems consume excess energy as they cycle on and off frequently. An A/C or heat pump that’s too small, on the other hand, will struggled to cool your home during the hottest days. A properly sized air conditioner, however, should achieve maximum efficiency at all times.
  • Comfort – Systems that are too big usually won’t run long enough to properly dehumidify your home. This can lead to clammy conditions. Load calculation tools can help you to avoid this.
  • Air quality – Because large systems cannot adequately remove moisture from the air, your home could become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. A system that cycles on and off frequently also won’t provide the sort of continuous filtration necessary for optimum indoor air quality.

For more information on calculating your home’s cooling and heating loads, please contact the professionals at Comfort Systems. We proudly serve residents of the Wichita area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Wichita, Kansas 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 Resource guide.

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