A replacement buyer comparing four-ton and five-ton proposals needs to know which home inputs were recorded, how heating and cooling loads inform equipment selection, what ductwork was evaluated, and what document the customer receives. A useful page separates a residential load calculation from equipment selection, duct design, airflow testing, and a sales estimate.
Run the checklistGet a Fix ListKeep equipment installation scope on the AC installation page, competing replacement recommendations on the second-opinion page, and room-delivery complaints on the airflow-balancing page. A load-calculation page earns its own URL when the company genuinely surveys a home and produces a documented residential heating and cooling load for design, replacement, permit, or independent-review work.
Separate new construction, like-for-like replacement, remodel or addition, envelope changes, comfort investigation, and independent sizing review. State whether the service is sold alone, included after a signed replacement agreement, or used only inside the contractor's own proposal process.
Name the actual field and plan inputs: conditioned dimensions, orientation, windows and shading, insulation and assemblies, infiltration assumptions, ventilation, occupants and internal gains, duct location and condition, design temperatures, and existing comfort history. Explain how unknown or inaccessible inputs are recorded.
Distinguish the calculated sensible and latent loads from nominal equipment tonnage. Explain that equipment selection uses model-specific performance at local design conditions, while duct sizing and room delivery require separate inputs and design work. Do not turn the result into a universal size promise.
Define whether the deliverable includes a block or room-by-room load report, input summary, design conditions, assumptions, Manual S equipment-selection record, duct notes, revision policy, permit support, consultation, and authorization for another contractor or designer to rely on it.
Document source and status for every material input: measured, observed, plan-derived, owner-supplied, defaulted, or inaccessible. Flag proposed changes and conflicting information rather than silently converting uncertainty into precision.
Present heating, total cooling, sensible cooling, and latent cooling where included; room, zone, or block scope; design conditions; calculation date and method; and important assumptions. Keep a calculated building load separate from equipment capacity.
Explain whether candidate equipment was checked against manufacturer performance at the project conditions, which sizing limits or criteria were applied, and how airflow, altitude, staging, variable capacity, ducts, electrical service, and other constraints affect the final choice.
State who can use the report, whether Manual S or duct design is attached, what the installer must still verify, which changes trigger recalculation, how revisions are approved, and who owns permit submission, commissioning, and installed-performance checks.
Operator references: ACCA's residential system-design review treats Manual J load calculation, Manual S equipment selection, and Manual D duct design as connected but distinct checks. Its current Manual S overview explains that equipment selection uses the home's loads, local climate, construction, and manufacturer performance data. ACCA also maintains an approved-software directory. Verify the current standard, tool, project facts, jurisdiction, and permit requirements before publishing method or compliance claims.
Limitation: A website audit cannot survey a home, calculate loads, select equipment, design ducts, verify software inputs, interpret a project-specific code, approve a permit, or predict installed comfort or energy use. Qualified HVAC designers, contractors, manufacturers, and relevant authorities control those decisions. No ranking, call, lead, revenue, comfort, efficiency, savings, approval, or equipment result is promised.
The $49 Mini Fix List prioritizes method, inputs, deliverables, scope, trust, local SEO hygiene, and mobile handoff problems. The $99 Full Local Fix List adds screenshots, speed, competitor context, and an implementation queue. Implementation is optional after diagnosis.
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