How to Read a Manual-J Report

1 MIN READ
Energy Vanguard

<i>Heating and cooling load calculations based on ACCA Manual J are an important first step in any hvac design, and many municipalities are increasingly requiring these calcs at permitting. Done well (and not fudged by the mechanical contractor) it's only a starting point for selecting equipment.</i>

Everyone in the HVAC world talks about the importance of getting heating and cooling load calculations based on ACCA Manual J. A great number of HVAC contractors don’t do these, and instead sell and install equipment with air distribution systems they choose based on rules of thumb … and these oversized systems tend not to work so well.

But what if you do hire a contractor or third-party designer to do Manual-J load calculations and you’re not an expert? Suddenly you’re faced with a bunch of seemingly indecipherable reports. How do you know if they’re accurate or not? … Allison Bailes provides some assistance.

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About the Author

Allison Bailes

Allison A. Bailes III, Ph.D., author of the Energy Vanguard blog (a must-read for the energy-minded) owns Energy Vanguard, a residential building science firm in Decatur, Ga., that does HVAC design across North America.

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