When you decide to build a new home or renovate an existing one of your highest priority steps should be having a load calculation performed on your home. NO, the builder will not perform this for you. Usually they will put the cookie cutter AC unit in the home that's hot at the moment.
Being able to understand where the heat loss/gains are imperative in making decisions on how to lower your energy bills. Your HVAC should be sized according to load calculations; also it is the best source for understanding the current condition of your existing home. Your new renovation can benefit from a heat load calculation in the types of construction techniques, construction materials, such as roofing material, doors, windows, insulation that should be used in your project
There are software programs on the market that can assist you in doing a load calculation such as Wrightsoft, or Right_J. Both of these programs are based from the ACCA manual J method. Just like working with any other computer software the saying "garbage in, garbage out" is very accurate in these. Most of you have used some sort of Income Tax software in the past, the same principal apples to this case also. Remember this calculation will stay with your home until you are required to replace the unit. This is a major investment in your home, so my suggestion is that you do it right the first time. Any of these programs will catch the common math errors, which will keep you on track as to the order of what goes in & how.
My suggestion is to hire a "Third Party Consultant" to do the load calculation for you. There are several out in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, the one I recommend often is www.myacguy.com.
If you choose to work with a builder or a contractor make sure they have experience with both the load calculation software they are using & the basic general building construction techniques as well. A contractor can make the result of the load calculation come out to what ever they want it to be. As a homeowner it would be good advice to read up on load calculation methods and terminology or attend a workshop that can help you become more familiar with them.
Become a smart home buyer and owner and take advantage of this valuable step when building or remodeling your next home.
Ricky Ellis - Senior Inspector
Safety First Home Inspections 214.533.2536
http://www.safetyfirsthome.com
Safety First Home Inspections (http://www.safetyfirsthome.com) offers Top Quality Home Inspections in Dallas/Plano/Allen Frisco/MicKinney Texas,
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