A professional load calculation can make a world of difference in your AC system’s performance. It won’t necessarily affect your AC system’s output, but it will provide insight into whether your AC system is the right size for your home. So, why should you consider a load calculation for your AC system?
What Is a Load Calculation?
A load calculation is a heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) process that’s designed to reveal the appropriate size for an AC system – or a heating appliance like a furnace – in a given home. It involves the use of a mathematical formula.
While there are different formulas available for load calculations, most of them take into account the square footage of the home, the climate region in which the home is located, and the home’s level of insulation. Assessing these factors will reveal the appropriate size for the home’s AC system.
Why You Should Get a Professional Load Calculation for Your AC System
With a professional load calculation, you can determine whether your AC system is oversized or undersized. If your home has an undersized AC system, it may run indefinitely during the summer without ever reaching the temperature set on the thermostat.
An undersized AC system means the British Thermal Unit (BTU) output of an AC system is lower than that of the load calculation. A load calculation will reveal how many BTUs your AC system needs to produce to properly cool your home. If your AC system falls short of this number, it’s considered undersized and may not cool your home.
You can determine whether your AC system is too big with a professional load calculation as well. In the world of HVAC, bigger isn’t always better. An oversized AC system typically won’t have trouble cooling your home, but it may fail prematurely while requiring more maintenance.
Oversized AC systems often suffer from short cycling. Short cycling occurs when an AC system runs for a short period before turning off. If your AC system is too big, it may quickly cool your home before turning off. Shortly thereafter, it may turn back on while repeating the process. Short cycling can lead to wear and tear, as it forces the compressor and other parts to turn on and off many times.
If you are experiencing a problem with your air conditioning or heating call us at 512-336-1431 to schedule an appointment. We’ll be glad to come out and take a look at the issue.
1431-183 A/C & Heating proudly serves Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, Liberty Hill, and North Austin.
