WhenIt Comes To HVAC, Size Matters (NAPSA)—When it comes to heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment, proper sizing is critical to the performance and efficiency of a system. Although some homeownersfeel a bigger system will do a better job, this isn’t always the case. In order for the system to perform optimally, it must be correctly sized by the contractor to meet the needs of the heating or cooling load. If a unit is too large, its cycle times will be reduced. This prevents the unit from reaching maximum efficiency and, in turn, causes higher operating costs. It can also keep the unit from running long enough to remove excess humidity from the home, resulting in a decrease in home comfort. If a house has an existing system that needs to be replaced, don’t assume that the new unit will be the samesize and capacity as the old one. Changes in the home, such as additions, renovations and insulation, and changes in HVAC equipment, such asefficiency and technology improvements, may require a size different than theoriginal. Another way a contractor will determine the best-size unit is by conducting heating and cooling load calculations, using either the entire house or room-by-room calculations. The load is the amount of heating or cooling that the unit must supply in order to maintain a specified temperature. These calculations are determined by several factors, including: * type, size and number of windows * total square footage of the home air filtration * the loss of heating or cooling in air ducts in unconditioned spaces * climate moisture * shading devices, such as awnings. Qualified, licensed and insured HVAC contractors, such as a Cole- man Heating and Cooling dealer, will be able to properly size your home’s HVAC equipment. The contractors can also help you select energy-efficient units, such as the Echelon” Series, manufac- tured by Johnson Controls. To learn more about energy-efficient HVAC equipment, unit sizing and load calculation, visit www.cole manac.com orcall (877) 874-7378.
