of heat-loss calculation

property means that a more accurate heat-loss calculation can be completed and therefore you can make a better heating appliance recommendation.

The type and thickness of insulation needs to be considered, as well as which parts of the building are insulated. Doors and windows must be taken into account, including how many there are, their size, and whether they are single, double or triple-glazed.

How to make the heat-loss calculations

Once the necessary information has been gathered, it’s time to do the calculations. Thankfully, there are tools to make this step simpler. Downloadable Microsoft Excel documents are freely available through the MCS website: simply add the relevant information to the document, which will then perform the calculation and provide answers. You can make well-founded recommendations based upon these calculations as to whether to upgrade elements of the heating system, and which ones.

Crucially, heat-loss calculations will help you provide the most effective and efficient heating solution for your customers, saving them money and boosting your reputation as a skilled and knowledgeable professional.

Avoid common mistakes

With the aid of online tools, the calculations shouldn’t be too tricky. Problems are most likely to be caused if you overlook certain parts of the process or don’t ask the right questions of the homeowner. It is important to consider the heating environment as a whole, so weather conditions at different times of year will come into play, as will the direction the windows face and how much sun hits those windows.

Making the effort to understand heat-loss calculations and becoming competent at doing them will ensure that you are ready to recommend solutions that are the right fit for your customers: this may be a gas boiler, a heat pump, a hybrid system or another heating appliance. With accurate heat-loss calculations, you can help your customers save money and energy – which makes you an invaluable ally.

More support

The number of factors involved in heat-loss calculations can seem intimidating at first, but support is available and good manufacturers provide a full range of specialist training courses on this and related topics. You can help your customers understand the financial and environmental benefits of this process and why it is an important part of any heating installation.

You’ll be able to take advantage of the rewarding opportunities that comprehensive heating consultation can provide by keeping up to date with changes to relevant laws, training opportunities, and assistance. ■

• Find out more about Baxi’s training courses at: baxi.co.uk

• Downloadable MCS calculation spreadsheets are at: www.mcscertified.com