When it comes to your business, you’ve put all your efforts into making it a success. Finding the right suppliers, employees, and customers is all part of the battle. However, many Sarasota, Florida, business owners don’t apply the same conservative, frugal outlook when it comes to heating and cooling their businesses. This could mean higher energy bills and a huge difference on the bottom line. To pick the right HVAC system for your business, it’s important to calculate heating and cooling loads. Here’s why.
HVAC The Rule-of-Thumb Method
Although new commercial construction building codes require load calculations for HVAC systems, very few inspectors actually enforce it. Because of the lax approach to these loads, many contractors use the rule-of-thumb method. This means that the HVAC system adds a ton for every 400 to 600 square feet of conditioned space. While this may have been a somewhat accurate way to find the correct size for an HVAC system, it’s widely been disproven as a surefire method for furnace or air conditioner selection.
ACCA Manual J Specifications
To combat the rule-of-thumb method, the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) developed the Manual J, which takes into account several factors to calculate HVAC loads aside from square footage. Heat loss, design conditions, insulation, skylights, doors, windows, ceilings, and floors all contribute to the load. With this method, contractors can easily find and install the correct HVAC system to meet a building’s requirements.
What It Means For Business Owners
Because the Manual J provides pinpoint precision when determining commercial HVAC loads, it allows us to pick the right equipment for the job. Usually, this means a smaller system, as the rule-of-thumb tends to overcompensate. Not only will a compact unit save you money on the purchase, but it will also cut energy usage, leading to lower monthly energy bills.
When we calculate loads, it may take some extra time, but it’s definitely in your best interest. If you’re searching for a contractor who cares enough to go that extra mile for you, call Climatic Conditioning Co., Inc. at (941) 758-3080.
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