“In this day and age with building codes and energy codes, you just can’t do it by hand on a form, particularly not with Manual-J 8. It’s impossible. We knew we needed to use Right-Draw to design HVAC systems correctly. You can’t have a business servicing horses and buggies in the age of the automobile. It doesn’t make sense.”
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That’s how Mike Douglas looks at it. Mike is president of Advent Air Conditioning in Lewisville, Texas. The company’s engineering department designs approximately 2500 HVAC systems every year, generating $10 million annually. 90 percent of the company’s jobs are residential, 10 percent are commercial, but all of them have one thing in common: they are designed using Wrightsoft software.
“As a business owner, one of the things I like is that Right-Draw gives us a level of professionalism whether it’s a specialty home or a basic starter home. Within the past year, we have actually picked up new accounts because our customers were so impressed by the professionalism of our designs, particularly when we go up against contractors who are giving them what amounts to a crayon rendition on a napkin,” he said.
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Without the right software, he says, builders will end up with unsatisfied homeowners and contractors will get warranty calls. “Homeowners can buy the best air conditioning system in the world, but if it’s inadequately installed, that 19 SEER will be a 10 SEER. If your duct design is inadequate you can freeze up your coil or end up with high utility bills and rooms that are too hot or too cold. If you’re selling these efficiencies to your customer, you need to deliver. You need to adequately design and do a proper load calculation and CFM breakdown by room. You have to do through all the steps. Plus, in the world of litigation, we like knowing we have digital archives of complete Manual-J 8 loads and documentation for all our jobs and that everything has been done according to industry standards.”
“The world and the industry and the building products have changed, and we all need to change, too. What you used to do just doesn’t work anymore. It’s no longer relevant. It’s just not going to fly.”