What is load calculation and how does it factor in to my new air conditioner?

July 07, 2016

If it’s time to consider an air conditioner replacement, having a technician perform a load calculation is imperative in picking the system that will work best for your house. All homes are specific in their cooling requirements. If your system is inaccurately sized, it will impact your comfort and multiply your utility bills. Let’s talk about what goes into a load calculation.

Originally, a load calculation was discovered only by looking at the square footage of a home. That’s still one piece of the puzzle, but we consider many other factors to find the products that will work the best for your home. Our team will look at the climate in Des Moines, the square footage and structure of your home, the level of insulation, your roof size and type, the size and location of windows, your home’s sun exposure and your family’s habits and schedule.

We want to help you discover the air conditioner replacement that fits your home. If your system is too small, you’ll have difficulty keeping your home at the perfect temperature. And just because a system is bigger doesn’t absolutely mean it’s better. In fact, if your system is too oversized for your home, you could have a lot of problems:

  • Because it won’t have to function as long, an oversized system will consistently warm up and cool down. This causes more wear and tear on the system than need-be.
  • It can also decrease productivity and raise utility bills.
  • Another problem with an oversized system cycling on and off too much is it will fail to dehumidify your air properly.

One key to your home’s comfort is creating decent airflow. Heartland Heating & Cooling can help with a room-by-room load calculation. We will make sure all components of your system—your air conditioner, ductwork and registers—are working together to keep you comfortable.

At Heartland Heating & Cooling, we specialize in keeping your Des Moines home comfortable and maximizing energy efficiency. If you’re considering an air conditioner replacement, give us a call at 515-344-3579.