If a home's air conditioning system is more than 10 years old, chances are it is a lot less energy efficient than a newer system would be. If it is time to consider replacing that old AC system then it is a good idea to have a qualified professional evaluate the home's overall HVAC design. It is critical to choose a comfort unit that will provide low maintenance and operating costs while providing outstanding energy benefits. A common error that homeowners make is in choosing a system that is larger than the home needs. An air conditioner that is oversized will not run long enough to properly remove the humidity from the air.

The use of ACCA certified Manual J load calculations will help a contractor to best determine the needs of a home. If the installer is simply installing a new heating or cooling system that matches the output of the old one there is a good chance that the system will not operate as efficiently as one that has been properly sized would. A Manual J analysis provides information regarding the heat loss and gain for the entire house. This information is vital when it comes to choosing the properly sized system.

Using a Manual J report, a contractor can then use Manual D in order to determine the correct ductwork system for the home. This will ensure that each room gets the proper amount of warm or cool in air to maximize the effectiveness of the HVAC system. It is a good idea to have the ductwork examined if the home is in need of a new air conditioner or furnace. Even if the duct work has been optimally designed, there still may be leaks or damage that should be repaired.

Manual S can be used by a knowledgeable professional in deciding what equipment is the right size for the home. Choosing the right size heating or cooling equipment will not only provide immediate cost savings since larger equipment is much more costly, but will provide long lasting cost savings since the right size equipment will not become an unnecessary drain when it comes to energy usage.

A Manual D duct design gets very complex with its sizing calculations. There are many different sizes and different kinds of ducts. Some of them are VAV systems, both the multiple zone and the two-story ones. There is also a system that has VAV dampers. Some systems are set up to handle constant volume and others need more flexible ducts. Manual D duct design techniques also teaches you about the potential problems and things that can go wrong with ducts. Sometimes leaking of the ducts can lead to loss and that can adversely affect the quality of the air in the building. Likewise, you will learn in Manual D procedure about the enveloping equipment system and how to synch its performance with the overall HVAC duct system

Choosing a qualified and knowledgeable contractor when it comes to replacing or upgrading the comfort system in a home can deliver long lasting results which will be felt by the homeowner for years to come.