How to Size a Home Heating System
- 1). Contact a local and reputable heating contractor. Make sure he understands that installing a heating system is more than just oversizing a system 2 times or 3 times larger than is really needed. Speak to the contractor, and ask him to provide references for past installations.
- 2). Follow along with the contractor's estimator as she measures the walls, records the window types and locations. Ask her as to her own assessment of the home's insulation value and should any more be added before the system is calculated.
- 3). Inspect the air infiltration testing procedures as it is being conducted. Ask the contractor how to seal the home from any unwanted air penetration. Question what to caulk or seal and how to go about the process correctly. In many cases the air infiltration test may be conducted at least twice. The first time is to find the problems. The second test will show the results of the caulking and sealing repairs.
- 4). Request the final copy of all tests performed on the home. This should also include the basic drawing and the computer results found in sizing the heating system. The basic plan should clearly identify the locations of all duct work and cold air returns. Ask the contractor how many separate zones will be required for the heating system. Can the zones be programmed to shut off areas of the home when they are not in use?
Source...