Is there a "standard" method for calculating the size of the heating strip required? I have a heat/loss/gain report if that helps. It's a 2 ton unit and currently has a 5Kw strip installed. The HVAC guy uses the following method:

1 ton = 3Kw
2 ton = 5Kw
3 ton = 7Kw
4 ton = 10Kw etc etc

I am beginning to wonder if the inspector will take issue if he feels there's inadequate aux available. There are Pros/Cons with everything. What's the Con if the heat strip that is installed is inadequate? I am located in Middle Georgia if geography is a factor. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Not sure what the purpose of this heater strip is.

Is this the emergency or auxiliary heat?

I will copy this over at HVAC and see if those resident experts can help.

There is no such thing as a standard size for strip heat. Strip heat is used for two reasons. One is the backup heat source for a heat pump install and the other is the main source of heat for the house when no heat pump is available.

The exact size of the required strip heat will depend upon what the manual J calculations call for since that is the only true way to calculate it. ALL homes should have a manual J done since the size of the heat pump/air conditioner and heat depends upon that calculation. Any other way of calculating is guess work and that can cause major problems down the road.

If the wrong size strip heater is installed two major problems can happen. First the strip heater will have to be replaced with the proper sized one and the second problem is more severe in that the electrical circuits and circuit breakers in the house that power the heater will have to be changed (usually to the next size up). This is where the extra wire and breaker cost along with the labor can get expensive.

Building inspectors look at different items in different jurisdictions but usually in the code a new home has to be able to maintain a prescribed temperature down to a prescribed outside temp. These vary also depending upon the exact area in which you live.

Sorry I could not give you an exact answer but I believe in accuracy especially since it is your hard earned money being spent and the least you deserve is the comfort you are paying for.

Was a Manual J done to produce the heat loss you have on your report. If so, what is that number?