HVAC load calculation software

Manual J software or a $100 service?

HVAC load calculation software compared with a Manual J service: license, training, time per house and when each makes sense for builders and HVAC contractors.

  • J + S + D for $100
  • Permit-ready PDF
  • 2–3 business days
  • No subscription
Builder and contractor reviewing construction plans
Manual J + S + D · $100 per house

Free quote confirmation, no account needed. You pay per house, no subscription.

What Manual J software does

ACCA-approved load calculation programs implement Manual J, and most also cover Manual S and Manual D. You enter the house room by room: walls, ceilings, floors, every window and door, orientation, infiltration and duct location. The software looks up the design conditions and produces the report a plan reviewer expects.

What it costs you

Desktop and online programs are usually sold as yearly or monthly subscriptions, sometimes per user. On top come training to use them correctly and the time to enter each house: for a typical new home, a trained user needs one to several hours for J, S and D.

When software makes sense

If you run many load calculations every week and have a trained person whose job it is, owning the software can pay off. You control the timing and can rerun options quickly.

When a service makes sense

If load calculations are a few houses a month, or the person who would do them is needed on site, a service is cheaper: no license, no training, no hours at the desk. You pay per house only when you have a project.

How Loadpol works

Send the plan set; we prepare Manual J, Manual S and Manual D with ACCA-approved software and deliver one permit-ready PDF. $100 per house for all three. Builders with steady volume can choose the business partnership: $1,000 per month for up to 10 calculations.

Last reviewed November 2026. Code sections refer to the International Residential Code and International Energy Conservation Code; local amendments may apply.

Pricing

J, S & D for $100. All three.

One price for every builder and every contractor, from the first house. No subscription, no software license, no minimum order.

Full permit set

Manual J + S + D

$100 / house

All three reports for one house, matched to each other, in one PDF package.

Order for $100
Load calculation

Manual J

✓ included

Room-by-room heating and cooling loads (sensible and latent) to ACCA Manual J 8th Edition.

Equipment selection

Manual S

✓ included

Checks the furnace, heat pump or AC you plan against the Manual J loads and manufacturer data.

Duct design

Manual D

✓ included

Duct sizing per room: airflow (CFM), supply and return sizes, friction rate and static pressure.

$100 per dwelling unit for all three reports, also if you need only one of them. Confirmed before we start. Unusual projects (very large custom homes, more than two systems) are quoted first.

What you get

A report your plan reviewer recognizes.

Every report is built from your actual plans, and delivered as one PDF you can upload with the permit application.

Room by roomHeating, sensible and latent cooling load and airflow for every room.
Code referencesPrepared to ACCA Manual J 8th Edition, Manual S and Manual D.
Matched equipmentManual S check against manufacturer data for the unit you plan.
Duct sizesManual D supply and return sizes, friction rate and static pressure.

Example screen with sample numbers (heating / cooling Btu/h per room). Your report uses your plans.

FAQ

Manual J Software vs a Manual J Service: answered.

Do I need ACCA-approved software for a permit?

Many building departments accept Manual J reports only from ACCA-approved software. Our reports are prepared with approved software.

Is there free Manual J software?

There are free calculators for rough estimates, like ours, but they are not a Manual J. For a permit you need a full room-by-room calculation.

How much does a Manual J cost?

$100 per house for Manual J, Manual S and Manual D together. No subscription and no minimum order.

How fast do I get the report?

Usually 2–3 business days after we receive complete plans and specs.

Will the building department accept it?

Reports follow ACCA Manual J 8th Edition, Manual S and Manual D and use the plans you send. Acceptance is up to your building department; if plan review asks for corrections to our report, we revise it at no charge.

More

Manual J in your city.

What Is a Manual J? · Manual J vs Manual S vs Manual D · Manual J Permit Requirements · How Much Does a Manual J Cost?

Order J + S + D · $100 →