Keeping Pace with Broussard’s Growth
Few cities in Acadiana are building as fast as Broussard. From the subdivisions spreading south along Highway 90 to the custom homes going up near Ambassador Town Center and the residential growth along Albertson Parkway, new construction has been a constant here for the past decade. That means a lot of HVAC systems are being designed and installed, and the quality gap between a well-engineered system and a rushed one shows up quickly in comfort and utility costs.
F & R Air Conditioning works with builders and homeowners throughout Broussard on new construction HVAC. We handle the full scope: load calculations, equipment selection, duct design, installation, and startup testing.
Designing Systems for Broussard’s Housing Mix
Production Homes in Planned Subdivisions
Many of Broussard’s new neighborhoods feature production-built homes with standardized floor plans. Even within these developments, identical floor plans can have different HVAC needs depending on lot orientation. A house facing south gets substantially more solar heat gain than the same plan facing north. We run Manual J calculations for each home individually rather than applying one equipment size to every unit in a development. Builders who cut this corner end up with callbacks and unhappy buyers.
Custom Builds on Larger Lots
Custom homes along the rural edges of Broussard (toward Maurice or out past Youngsville) tend to be larger, often with bonus rooms, media rooms, or detached garages with conditioned workshops. These homes benefit from multi-zone designs where different areas of the house can be controlled independently. A home office over the garage doesn’t need to be cooled to the same temperature as the living room, and zoning makes that possible without wasting energy.
What Louisiana Code Requires (and What It Doesn’t)
Louisiana’s residential building code sets minimum efficiency requirements for HVAC equipment, currently landing at 14.3 SEER2 for air conditioners in our climate zone. But the code is a floor, not a ceiling. It tells you the least efficient system you’re legally allowed to install. It doesn’t address duct leakage testing, proper system commissioning, or humidity management, all things that directly affect how your home feels to live in.
We go beyond code minimums on every project. Duct systems are pressure-tested for leakage. Equipment is commissioned according to manufacturer specifications. And we verify airflow at each supply register to make sure the system performs as designed, not just as installed.
Humidity Control for Tight Construction
New homes in Broussard are built much tighter than homes from 20 or 30 years ago. Better insulation, house wrap, and sealed penetrations mean less air infiltration, which is great for energy efficiency but creates a new challenge: moisture trapped inside the building envelope. Without proper ventilation and dehumidification, a tight new home can develop moisture problems within its first year.
We design mechanical ventilation into new construction projects, typically using an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) that brings in fresh air while pre-conditioning it so your HVAC system doesn’t take a hit.
Getting Started
The best time to involve your HVAC contractor is during the design phase, before permits are pulled. If you’re building in Broussard, call F & R Air Conditioning at (337) 893-5646 to start the conversation. We’ll coordinate with your builder on ductwork layout, equipment placement, and timeline.