Whether you need a whole air conditioning system for a newly constructed home, a replacement for some old equipment or a more energy-efficient upgrade, it is vital to make sure your new system is properly sized. A system that is too large or too small is more prone to failure and uses power less efficiently, and in an area as hot as Allen, TX, even small differences in energy efficiency can substantially impact utility bills. To make sure it is properly sized, an air conditioning contractor should perform a full load calculation prior to installing a new system.
The Load Calculation Process
A load calculation is the first step in the installation process; as such, it should only be performed by a factory authorized dealer who is fully familiar with the equipment to be installed. Larger homes need more cooling power, of course, which makes square footage a baseline for the calculation. However, professionals know that there is more to a home’s cooling load than just its size. The amount and quality of insulation, the number and type of windows and internal loads such as kitchen appliances all play a role in this calculation, and the dealer uses computerized analysis to turn all of these factors into a single estimate.
Because proper sizing is such an important part of the installation process, the load calculation should always be carried out before the dealer gives a price estimate or offers to install a particular system. Be wary of any dealer who quotes a price before coming to inspect the home in person, and always insist on a proper load calculation before having any work done.
Reasons to Get a Professional Load Calculation
When sizing a new system, some contractors just use the size of any existing equipment and pick new equipment to match. This practice is flawed for two reasons. First, the old calculation may have been incorrect, and using it again simply perpetuates the original mistake. Second, even if the old calculation was correct, changing circumstances may have rendered it obsolete. Other contractors perform a simple calculation based on the home’s square footage; doing so ignores all of the other factors that are part of a proper load calculation.
Conversely, a professional load calculation is the first step toward getting a system that is custom-fit to your home’s needs. A system that matches your home’s load is an efficient system that is less likely to need repairs and more likely to maintain high performance levels throughout its lifespan. In short, getting a load calculation is an investment in the future of your home’s comfort.
At Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating, we are committed to honestly and professionally serving our friends and neighbors in the Allen, TX area, which means we always perform a load calculation prior to installing air conditioning. If you need a new system, give us a call to schedule your load calculation today.
