Is your HVAC system too large or too small for your San Luis Obispo home? Most people have no idea how to answer this question, but the answer can have serious ramifications for your home. An HVAC installation that’s improperly sized is likely to cause any number of issues. To avoid headaches in the future, HVAC load calculations are an essential part of any new installation.
How HVAC Load Calculations Works
The purpose of load calculations is to determine exactly how much heating and cooling your home needs. The goal is to compute how energy flows through your home and how much HVAC capacity it requires.
To do this, an HVAC contractor uses a wide range of factors that are specific to your home. These include the size and layout of your home, the level of insulation and the type of building materials used. Even factors like your appliances, the orientation of your home and the local climate are important.
Why It’s Important
The average homeowner spends about $875 per year on heating and cooling. If your HVAC system is improperly sized, you could find yourself spending much more than that. A system that’s too large uses more energy than necessary to operate. It often causes short-cycling as well, which is when the system repeatedly cycles on and off.
A system that’s too large or small for your home can cause trouble in other ways as well. Improperly sized systems often struggle to maintain a consistent and comfortable temperature. They’re also more prone to breakdowns. Larger systems experience significant mechanical stress when they rapidly short-cycle. Smaller systems are easily overworked and may have a shorter service life as a result.
No matter how efficient your HVAC system is, you’re bound to have problems if it hasn’t been properly sized. Matching your heating and cooling system to your home’s needs is essential. If you’re considering a new HVAC installation, call Straight Line Heating and Cooling today.
