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Finding the Right Size of A/C by Load Calculations

Finding the Right Size of A/C by Load Calculations

Air conditioning systems are designed to offer both a comfortable and healthy living environment for you and your loved ones. However, an A/C unit that is too small or too big for your home’s load requirement won’t provide you the right cooling you need.

Read this post to know how you can get the right size of HVAC system for your space.

HVAC Load Calculations

Calculating HVAC load requirements needs a professional touch. It requires ample time and strict attention to details. While some contractors depend on rules of the thumb to find out the correct system size, others consider all relevant data in the process.

These include insulation levels, home’s layout or orientation, number of rooms, indoor ventilation, and many more. The rule of the thumb is based on the house’ square footage, where 400 – 600 square per ton is used in general calculations. But since houses vary from one another, the load requirement may increase by 25% or more per square foot.

Each house has different cooling and heating needs in BTU per hour, especially at peak conditions. Generally, newly – constructed homes require loads of more or less 800 square feet per ton even during hot seasons.

Whereas, well-designed homes need as much as 2000 to 2500 square feet per ton. If your HVAC contractor uses 500 square feet per ton, you will need a unit that is twice, or bigger than the standard size.

Why Avoid Oversized HVAC Systems

Will a bigger system provide better comfort? No, it won’t. Bigger systems can cool or heat your home fast, but they can become less efficient in the long run. Aside from being expensive, they are also energy-consuming. Too small systems will not save you money either! They will not be able to provide the level of comfort you need at home.

As they constantly run trying to heat or cool down your space, they add cost to your monthly bill. Choosing the correct size of HVAC system always depends on its load requirements.

Anything that is above or below its required capacity is not money and energy wise. You should get the right system size to get the best bang of your investment.

If you need help finding the right HVAC system for your home requirement, then call Spencer Air Conditioning & Heating at 972-316-9405.