Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine May 2026

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2026

State National Chapter News

immediately shows the new load. Makes It easy to help your homeowner compare the value of insulation, window, construction, etc. Even though much time was not spent on Manual D duct design, it was valuable to see how easily the duct can be manually drawn. The result gives you the layout which will impress any inspector and help your installers know what you want. Other features like Energy Analysis and Cost Comparison were not covered but videos are available if a company wants to take that move. Just go to YouTube. There are scores of videos on every subject; some by Wrightsoft folks and many by others. While these many features are robust, they do come with a price. Beginning April 1, Wrightsoft raised their annual subscription to $900 and they don ’ t provide one and done ownership as in the past. Everything is a subscription which is the way everything is going and this price seems to be competitive. Fortunately, students in this class got the old $500 price since there was an unavoidable lap between the class announcement, price increase, and the class schedule. Also, Wrightsoft now comes with two seats. You can put it on two computers which is a huge help. Back in the days when the price was $300, it could only be used on one computer and did not include all the extra features of todays offering. Finally and importantly, the class provided 8 hours of approved continuing education, CEU 26-10. Classes were held in Blytheville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Maumelle, and Springdale. Depending on demand, they may be offered again in 2027 or perhaps 2028.

Manual J 38 Attend 5 Classes From April 2 to April 24, thirty-eight persons attended the five Arkansas HVACR Association sponsored Manual J classes. The classes used Wrightsoft RSU Residential which includes the following modules: • ACCA Manual J & S Loads • ACCA Manual D Ducts • Radiant Panel Loops • Energy Analysis & Cost Comparison • High-Velocity Ducts • Geothermal • Duct Balancing & Commissioning In a two-day class, the focus was limited to Manual J with a very short time spent on Manual D. The program has come a long way in the 30+ years we have been using it. Originally it was a spreadsheet that made the math easy but one still had to look up all the construction characteristics like the old days of paper and a Manual J book. Now, a Microsoft user draws the floor plan using load shape and duct shape drawing tools. Takes a few minutes to acclimate but then is very easy. Construction characteristics are a quick look up via a point and click with the results displayed in a graphic cut-away. One cool feature is the ability to change the orientation with one click. Even if the drawing and load is complete, one click changes all orientations and accompanying load changes. The Load Meter is a chart showing the load as a whole, by zone, and by component. Want to change the wall construction, do it and the Load Meter