Whole-home sizing
HVAC Load Calculator
Manual J Lite for the whole house: central AC, gas furnace, or central heat pump.
Use this if you're:
- Replacing or upgrading a central AC, furnace, or central heat pump
- Wondering whether your existing 3-ton or 4-ton system was sized correctly
- Planning a whole-house electrification (gas furnace → heat pump conversion)
- Comparing competing install bids and wondering if anyone did the load math
What it computes: total cooling tonnage and heating BTU/h for the whole house, accounting for climate zone (CZ3 coast, CZ4 South Bay, CZ12 inland), square footage, insulation vintage, window area, infiltration, and duct condition. Calls out short-cycling risk if you're considering an oversized system.
What it tells you: a single recommended tonnage (e.g., "3-ton heat pump, 36,000 BTU/h cooling, 38,000 BTU/h heating") for the home as a whole.