We don’t have a huge call for heat here in Orlando, as we get plenty of it during the long summer months. But, we do get chilly enough during the short winter months to need a reliable heating system. Reliability isn’t the only aspect you want to have, though; you also need to make sure that any heating system you install is the correct size for your new home. Otherwise, you may be too chilly or too hot. The heating and cooling experts from Downtown Air and Heat can help you with the entire installation process, including the correct calculation of the heat load of your new home.
Why Is Heat Load Important?
Every home needs a certain amount of heat to be comfortable, but this amount isn’t determined by square footage alone, as you may have heard. To correctly assess what size heating system you’ll need, it’s imperative to have an expert perform a load calculation, also known as a Manual J. This calculation takes into account a number of factors that all effect the heating in your home:
- The number and types of windows and doors
- The level of insulation from top to bottom
- Number of occupants
- Floorplan
- Orientation of the home
- Daytime heat gain
- Square footage
Your technician will take these factors and a few others, then perform a calculation to determine how much heat your home needs to be optimally comfortable. This determination will dictate what size heating system you’ll need, whether you want to use a furnace, heat pump, ductless or high efficiency system.
Why is sizing so important? A heating system that is too small won’t be adequate enough to provide the warm air you need, but it will try by running all the time. This will wear down parts prematurely and lead to potential breakdown. If your heating system is too big, your home will overheat and heat too fast; this can result in short-cycling as your home will heat up and cool off too quickly.
When you need help installing a heating system into new construction, call the experts you can count on: Downtown Air and Heat.
