Steps a Good Contractor Should Take to Size Your Heating and Air Conditioning System
Published by SidingPro on Tagged Home ImprovementSteps a Good Contractor Should Take to Size Your Heating and Air Conditioning System Many factors affect a home’s heating or cooling requirement, or “load.” A good estimator will measure walls, ceilings, floor space, and windows to determine the room volumes, and will assess the R-value of the home’s insulation, windows, and building materials. A close estimate of the building’s air leakage is also necessary: new homes are built very well and not much air leaks in or out, while older homes can have quite a bit of leakage. A good estimate will also include an inspection of the size, condition of seals on joints and insulation, and location of the distribution ducts in forced air systems. The placement of supply and return registers should be appropriate for the system type and size. If you have an area of the home that is too warm or too cool let the estimator know and they should be able to offer solutions. The orientation of the house also affects heat gain and heat loss through windows. Overhangs can reduce solar gain through windows. Make sure the contractor uses the correct design for the outdoor temperature and humidity in your area; Using a higher summer design temperature results in over sizing air conditioners. A good contractor should: • Use a computer program or written calculation procedure to size the system • Provide a written contract listing the main points of your installation that includes the results of the heating and cooling load calculation • Give you a written warranty on equipment and workmanship – are they going to clean up when they’re done or leave it for you? • Give a complete list of the work to be performed i.e. city/county permits, surge protector, electric upgrades (if necessary). Remember – it’s the small details that are usually the difference between an average job and a great job! • Allow you to hold the final payment until you are satisfied with the new system, and, for peace of mind, a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee afterwards. Even the most energy-efficient heating and cooling system will NOT to save you money if it is the wrong size for your home, or not put in correctly.
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