Load Calculation

Duct System, Featured, Load Calculation, Service & Maintenance

Guide to Understanding Manuals J, D, and S

Guide to Understanding Manuals J, D, and S

During an HVAC system installation, there are several important technical elements that must be taken into account to ensure the system is correct for your home and that it will work at its best. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) publishes three technical references that provide all the guidance, procedures, and best practices that your HVAC professional will need for a successful installation. Here is a brief introduction to Manuals J, D, and S, and what they cover.

Manual J Residential Load Calculation

Manual J provides all the technical guidance necessary for a residential load calculation. Each building has a heating or cooling load, which is the amount of heating or cooling needed to keep the inside spaces at the temperature the residents prefer. A load calculation takes into consideration multiple thermal and physical characteristics of the building to determine its load. Once your HVAC professional knows the building's load, he can easily guide you to the type of HVAC equipment that has the functional capacity to satisfy that load.

Manual D Residential Duct Systems

Manual D covers the ductwork in residential settings. The HVAC system ductwork is the network of pipes that directs heated or cooled air from your HVAC equipment to the inside of your home. Ductwork must be properly designed, installed, sealed, and insulated to ensure it carries conditioned air without loss of energy and without wasteful air leaks.

Manual S Residential Heating and Cooling Equipment Selection

Manual S includes detailed technical specifications and performance information on multiple brands of air conditioners and heat pumps. This type of data helps your HVAC pro choose the best equipment for your particular needs. Manual S also provides additional information on equipment sizing, ventilation, and air distribution.

With more than three decades of experience in the HVAC industry, Air Assurance brings top-quality sales, installation, maintenance, and repair to customers in Tulsa and the neighboring communities. Contact us today for more information on Manuals J, D, and S and how these important technical references are used to ensure the best possible HVAC performance in your home.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Tang Yan Song/Shutterstock”

Air Conditioning, Duct Sealing, Insulation, Load Calculation

Air-Conditioning Factors That Determine Correct Sizing Procedures

If you want optimal performance from your new high-efficiency air conditioning system over the long-term, ask a comfort consultant to perform a proper load calculation. If your system is improperly sized, your household comfort and annual energy costs are bound to suffer.Indications of improper sizing include:

  • Inconsistent temperatures.

  • Humidity fluctuations due to improper system cycling.

  • Spiking energy costs.

To ensure that your cooling system is properly sized, insist that your comfort consultant do more than simply look at the nameplate of your existing air conditioner. In most cases, older systems are oversized for your current home because its cooling demands have been reduced by improvements in household energy efficiency such as weatherproofing, duct sealing and insulation upgrades. Plus, these days a smaller A/C can cool more efficiently than a comparably sized unit a decade ago. Thus, attempting to size a new air conditioning system based on the old model in your home can be highly inaccurate.TulsaorBroken Arrowarea residents should ask their comfort consultant to perform a load calculation based on a nationally recognized sizing method such as the Air Conditioning Contractors of America’s Manual J. Using this method, your comfort consultant will consider unique sizing factors such as:

  • The climate of this part of Oklahoma.

  • The size, layout, and orientation of your household.

  • The adequacy of your insulation.

  • Window location, type and size.

  • Potential air leaks.

  • Efficiency of ductwork design and installation.

  • Duct sealing.

  • Household occupancy.

  • Family routine and comfort preferences.

  • Efficiency ratings of light fixtures and major appliances.

These are just some of the factors your technician should consider when performing a proper load calculation.With every household being unique, checking the nameplate simply won’t cut it when it comes to the proper sizing of your new air conditioning system. If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, let our trained comfort consultants personally assess the appropriate sizing needs of your household. For expert consultation, contact Air Assurance today.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here.Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.