If you're building a new home or adding an entirely new HVAC system to an existing one, you might be surprised at how much time and work goes into planning the system. Can't you just perform a simple square footage calculation and move on? Of course, the answer is a solid "no." Both residential and commercial HVAC systems require substantial and sophisticated design work.

While whole textbooks exist on the subject of HVAC design, it can be instructive to learn a little about what goes into this process to understand why planning is so critical. The design of your system is arguably more vital to its efficiency and operation than your installation or choice of equipment.

Load Calculations: More Than Just Square Footage

Good planning starts with load calculations for both cooling and heating. You can find some quick and dirty formulas online for calculating your HVAC loads, but these typically rely only on basic features such as square footage. These calculations will provide you with a rough estimate of your needs at best, but professionals use far more in-depth formulas to determine your heating and cooling needs.

Note that these calculations can include many surprising considerations, including the materials used in constructing your walls and even the color of your roof. These design decisions can impact how much heat your home gains during the summer and how much warmth it loses during the winter. An accurate load calculation must take all of these issues into account.

In addition to considering your overall HVAC load, most contractors will also look at HVAC needs on a room-by-room basis. Some rooms may have more significant requirements due to large windows or other factors, while different parts of your home may require less heating or cooling. These localized calculations can affect numerous aspects of your HVAC system's design.

Putting It All Together

Load calculations are only one part of the equation. These can determine the equipment size you need for your house, but your contractors will also need to look at how much airflow each room requires. While larger rooms typically require greater flow, other considerations may come into play, and you may need to push more air into smaller spaces with higher heating or cooling load.

Ultimately, your contractor will use this information to determine the size of your ductwork, the number of branches, and how to distribute it throughout your home. This design stage is crucial to avoid making hot and cold spots or pushing so much air through your vents that your system creates sizable drafts. Careful design work will ensure that your system can keep your home comfortable at any temperature. 

For more information, contact a local HVAC contractor, such as Engineer Mechanical Contractor, Inc.