Buying Tips

There are three major issues when a contractor installs a new HVACR system in your home. The major issues are design, installation and commissioning. A failure to do any of these tasks correctly will have an adverse effect on one or more aspect of the overall performance of your system.

Design work consists of:

1) Selecting the type of system and equipment (plus operating and safety controls) that are compatible with the architecture of your home (you may need zoning in your home), fuel availability, fuel costs, the space available for equipment and duct runs, appearance issues and project cost. You should also compare the marginal cost of an increased increment of efficiency with the potential savings and the return on this investment. At some point, the payback on more efficiency becomes unattractive.

2) Having a Manual J load calculation completed for each room and for the load on each (if more than one) central unit.

3) Use of Manual S procedures and manufacturer’s application data to select equipment.

4) Use of Manual T procedures and manufacturer’s data to locate, select and size the supply outlets and the returns.

5) Use of manufacturer’s blower data, Manual J loads and Manual D procedures to design the duct system.

When Consulting an HVACR Contractor:
• Ask the contractor for references. Find out if other customers were satisfied.
• Ask the contractor about his or her license. If a license is required in your area, ask for the license number.
• Ask the contractor if he or she is a member of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. ACCA members have access to the latest technical information regarding HVAC systems. Through ACCA, contractors learn how to make quality an integral part of their company operations.

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