Calculating A/C Size

Many A/C systems are incorrectly sized because the installer only used the square footage of the home. There are dozens of factors that impact a home’s cooling load, which is what A/C size is based on. Some of the factors that influence the cooling load are insulation values, air sealing, number of occupants and A/C usage. If an installer doesn’t know how to accurately assess the load, he doesn’t know how to size an A/C.

Designing Ductwork

Ductwork is sized based on the output of the A/C (and furnace). Following are the basic elements of good duct design:

• Only approved materials are used for duct fabrication.
• Ideally, ducts are located inside the conditioned spaces.
• Ducts should be installed in straight lines and smooth turns.
• Supply airflow and return airflow should be equal.
• Ducts are sealed using approved materials, such as screws, collars, compression straps, mastic and metal tape.
• Ducts outside conditioned spaces should be insulated.
• A blower door test is used to test duct efficiency.

Calibrating Airflow

Airflow calibration is an important step to maximize cooling comfort and efficiency. Moreover, the blower motor capacity affects duct sizing. New A/C systems with higher SEER ratings utilize two-stage and multi-stage blower motors. Advanced blower motors save energy and last longer since there is less wear.

Cooling Efficiency

A/Cs cool by extracting heat from airflow at the evaporator coil. Refrigerant is placed under alternating low and high pressures between coils, and needs free airflow to maximize home cooling. The coils and lines should be checked for tiny leaks, and refrigerant charge should be measured at installation.

For professional A/C installation in your Southeast Michigan home, check out Aladdin Heating & Cooling

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about A/C installation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Christian-Delbert/Shutterstock”

• Obtain a list of references — Contacting references is one of the best ways to learn about a potential contractor for HVAC installation. A contractor with nothing to hide will provide you with a list, no questions asked.

• Prepare for a home inspection — A good technician will evaluate your home’s cooling and heating equipment, ductwork, energy efficiency, etc. to get an idea of what improvements might be necessary.

• No over-the-phone estimates — If a contractor tries to give you an estimate over the phone without having visited your home, hang up and call someone else. Without a home inspection, it will be too much of a haphazard estimate to be taken seriously.

• Extensive proposals — When a written proposal is provided, it should detail everything about the job, including price, the type of equipment that will be installed, warranty information, etc.

• Checking for size — Unfortunately, many homes across the country have cooling and heating systems that are either too big or too small for their needs. Rather than trusting past analyses, a good contractor will calculate the needed size from scratch.

• NATE certification — You should only hire technicians who have been certified by NATE (North American Technician Excellence). With rigorous training and testing procedures, they give new meaning to “the best of the best.”

• Professionalism throughout — Your experience with an HVAC contractor should begin with professionalism and end with professionalism. If, at any step during the process, you aren’t being treated in the manner you deserve, don’t be afraid to find another contractor.

For more expert advice on hiring the right HVAC contractor for your home, or for home comfort concerns, look no further than the professionals at Aladdin Heating & Cooling. We’ve been serving Grosse Point Park, Madison Heights, Ferndale and all surrounding areas for over 65 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Detroit, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about hiring an HVAC contractor and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

What NATE Certification Means
Choosing a knowledgeable, reliable HVAC tech for your home is one of the most important decisions you can make. NATE (North American Technical Excellence) certification ensures that the technician who services your home has been through extensive training to hone their skills. Technicians not only obtain overall knowledge about HVAC, but have the option of testing in a number of specialties. And in addition to thorough testing, these celebrated professionals are well-versed in customer service and satisfaction. They do the job right and treat customers with respect.

Rigorous Training
The committee that oversees certification is made up of some of the most knowledgeable individuals in the industry. They are part of a non-profit organization whose only goal is to ensure that every person who gets through the lengthy testing process is ready to meet whatever challenges they might be presented with. The committee doesn’t hand out certificates to just anyone. They know the certified technicians will represent the industry as a whole, so when a technician becomes NATE-certified, it means something. Plus, to ensure that homeowners can rely on the knowledge and skill obtained by NATE certification, each individual must be retested every five years if they wish to keep their certification.

If you need an HVAC technician to visit your home, no matter the reason, make sure they are NATE certified. You’ll get the best servicing every time, and your heating and cooling equipment will thank you for it.

If you would like further information regarding NATE certification, or for questions regarding home comfort, please don’t hesitate to contact the experts at Aladdin Heating & Cooling. We have been serving the HVAC needs of Grosse Pointe, Ferndale, Utica, and their surrounding southeast Michigan areas since 1945.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about NATE certification and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Aladdin Heating services Novi, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Oak Park, Ferndale, Beverly Hills, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Twp., Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Madison Heights, Clawson, Sterling Heights, Warren, Troy, St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Utica, Shelby Twp., Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock