Proper Load Calculations are Crucial Before an HVAC Installation

When your Joshua, TX home needs a new heating or cooling system, the system’s capacity is a key consideration. Too large of an HVAC system wastes money and doesn’t do a good job at maintaining consistent airflow, while too small of an HVAC system will wear out quickly and cause inconsistent temperatures. Before an HVAC installation, a qualified technician should perform an HVAC load calculation. Let’s take a look at how proper load calculations are made and why they matter.

Factors in Load Calculations

When an HVAC installation technician arrives at your home for a consultation, they will walk the interior and exterior perimeter of your home. The technician counts the number of windows, observes the building’s construction materials, and notes its orientation. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, other factors taken into account for proper load calculations include the building’s location, interior design, and amount of insulation.

How Proper Load Calculations Are Made

Most HVAC technicians use a computer or phone to calculate your home’s heating and cooling load requirements. After gathering the necessary information about your home, the technician enters the building’s orientation, geographic location, age, number of windows and doors, R-value of insulation for the attic, walls, and crawlspace, and the dimensions of each room. The number of residents in your home may also be considered.

Benefits of Proper Load Calculations

The goal of an HVAC installation is to reach “Goldilocks” conditions. Your home should be just right in terms of temperature and humidity control, airflow, and indoor air quality. The load calculation results provide the capacity range that you need for your HVAC installation. We recommend choosing a new heating or cooling system such that the calculated requirement falls in the middle of the system’s capacity.

To learn more about proper load calculations and their importance, take a look at NexGen Heating & Air Conditioning’s HVAC installation services, or contact us today.