If you’re in the market for a new furnace, you might think you can just buy one that’s the same size as your old one – but that’s usually a mistake. Newer furnaces are more energy efficient plus many homes have weatherization upgrades as time passes, so a smaller version of your old furnace might adequately heat your home while saving on energy. Besides that, furnace sizing has become a much more precise process in recent years.
Neglecting proper furnace sizing or going with an oversized unit isn’t recommended by HVAC experts. Not only are you paying for more than you need, oversized units waste energy, wear down sooner, and result in cold and hot spots in your home. These issues are mainly related to the short cycling that occurs with an oversized furnace. Its frequent stops and starts are not an efficient way to heat a home.
For proper furnace sizing, a reliable HVAC contractor should use the Air Conditioning Contractors of America’s Manual J, Manual D and Manual S calculations. Manual J calculates your home’s heating load by looking at a variety of factors in addition to the house’s size and layout. These include airtightness, insulation levels, types and orientation of windows, and more. Manual D helps to determine the proper design for ductwork. Manual S determines the proper size and type of HVAC equipment to install.
To make sure you have the right-sized furnace for your Fresno area home, please contact us at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning. Our technicians will perform careful measurements and calculations for a heating system that provides comfort and efficiency.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace sizing and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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