Why your home needs a heat loss/heat gain assessment

Ensuring your home is as comfortable as possible means making sure your furnace and A/C are functioning at optimal capacity. We spoke with David Fisher of Martino HVAC; a heating, air conditioning and indoor air quality specialist servicing the GTA about what is involved in a heat loss/heat gain assessment and the benefits of conducting one in your home.

Assess size

A heat loss/heat gain assessment determines the proper size of equipment you need in order to efficiently heat or cool your home. The assessment tells you how much energy you are losing from your home and how much energy you will need from your furnace, radiators or floor heating to keep you warm during the winter months.

It’s never too early to start thinking about the next season ahead!

For projects big and small

Adding living space to your home means there’s more space that air needs to circulate. A heat loss/heat gain assessment is mandatory. But, Fisher says a heat loss/heat gain assessment should be done even when you are simply replacing your furnace.

Ensure optimal energy efficiency

“Normally we see that equipment is oversized,” says Fisher of Martino HVAC. If your furnace is oversized, you’re wasting energy because the unit’s capacity is too high. “People tend to think that if you have equipment that is larger, it’s better,” says Fisher. But this is a misconception.

Create a more comfortable living space

A comfortable living space means the forced air system needs to run longer. “You need to move air throughout your home,” says Fisher. While we tend to think that if the air conditioner or furnace is running all the time, it’s costing more money, Fisher says, equipment that is properly sized will run more often and longer at its peak efficiency level rather than constantly starting and shutting off. “It’s kind of like cruise control on a car,” says Fisher. “When you’re driving in the city and you have more traffic, you’re wasting a lot of gas, but when you’re travelling on a highway on cruise control, it’s more efficient for your vehicle. The same is true when you’re heating and cooling your house.”

If you’ve just finished renovating your home, then now is a good time to have a heat loss/heat gain assessment conducted by the experts at Martino HVAC. Visit their profile on our website for contact information. While you’re there, read reviews about the company and learn more about their services!