Low temperatures in this part of Florida can dip down into the 40s, whereas highs can rise well into the 90s. Humidity levels remain on the high side year-round, ranging from 55.7% to as high as 80%. This is relevant because your HVAC system’s job is to ensure your home is at a comfortable temperature and humidity level, offering you relief from any uncomfortable outdoor weather. HVAC Essentials performs calculations for Manuals J, S, and D in Jacksonville, FL and beyond. By doing so, we’ll ensure your HVAC equipment and ductwork are the right size for your home’s requirements.
Contact us today by phone or online form and get matched with an ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) certified HVAC professional to help you with your design.
The ACCA, Manual J HVAC calculation allows you to accurately determine the need for heating and cooling in your specific building. Your home’s windows and their orientation are taken into account, as well as the minimum insulation values for your home according to your geographical location. The goal is to calculate how much heat the house needs under the coldest conditions and how much cooling it needs under the hottest conditions by examining the gain and loss of heat in the home.
If you skip Manual J, you will be in violation of Jacksonville’s city permit requirements for installing new HVAC systems. Beyond that, you may end up with a system that is oversized for your needs. An oversized system will not adequately remove humidity from the air because it will short cycle. Short cycling means turning on and off too frequently. You want your HVAC equipment to fit your needs as closely as possible, so it’s important to get a Manual J calculation performed by a professional.
When you use ACCA Manual S, you’ll be putting the information gained by Manual J into action. It ensures your new HVAC system will be the right size and will be able to handle the sensible load (controlling the temperature) and the latent load (removing humidity). HVAC equipment that is too large for your home’s needs as determined by Manual J will lead to a too-humid home. Excess humidity can cause mildew and mold growth, contributing to poor air quality.
Additionally, Manual S is much more accurate than using a rule of thumb or eyeballing equipment sizes because it uses manufacturer data about how the units perform under real-life conditions. Doing so is important because it is a more accurate predictor of how your equipment will perform in your household than going off of laboratory-based data or ballpark estimates.
Your ductwork is an important part of your HVAC system, and its effectiveness depends highly on its size and configuration. That’s where ACCA Manual D comes in. It chooses the size of ducts needed for your home based on the available static pressure the fan provides, the air flow expected to move through the duct, and the type of duct material (whether it be flexduct or sheet metal). It takes into account each room’s dimensions, the type of HVAC equipment to be installed, the layout of the building, airflow requirements, and the friction levels of the duct material.
Here are some main reasons Manual D is an important step in your HVAC design process: