Everything You Need to Know About Air Balancing
We’ve often had calls where homeowners thought their heating and cooling systems were losing efficiency, only to find out after an inspection that the problems are due to unbalanced airflow. In this blog, heating system repair contractor Schmitt Heating & Air Conditioning shares an overview of air balancing and its importance.
What Is Air Balancing?
A balanced HVAC system provides consistent temperatures throughout the house. There are many variables that affect this, such as the size and condition of the ducts, HVAC sizing and how far the room is from the HVAC system. Setting all rooms to the same temperature would result in some of them being too cold or too hot, depending on how close they are to the heating or cooling system.
This is where air balancing comes in. A capable heating and air conditioning repair technician will adjust relative output throughout the house until balanced temperatures are achieved. This may sound like a simple task, which is true if you’re talking about two or three rooms, but balancing temperatures across several rooms is a little more complicated..
How Air Balancing Is Done
Often the reason why certain rooms don’t receive enough conditioned air is because of leaks. When performing air balancing, an HVAC professional begins by inspecting the ductwork. The supply and return registers of the furnace or heat pump and air conditioner will be tested, and environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, as well as warm and cold spots, will be taken into consideration.
All this information will be fed into a specialized application that analyzes the airflow of the homeowner’s HVAC system and determines if it will require air balancing. It will also generate a list of recommended actions for correcting air imbalances, such as:
- Ductwork Repair — In addition to patching holes and leaky joints, defects in the insulation will also be repaired. Additional return ducts may also be installed.
- Dampers and Blowers — Blower fan speed will be adjusted, while dampers will be repositioned. Additional dampers may also be installed.
- Air Filters — Clogged air filters will be replaced.
After these and other corrections, the air will again be tested to ensure proper air balance.
Call Schmitt for All Your HVAC Needs
Schmitt is your leading provider of heating and air conditioning services. Give us a call at (415) 522-0966 or fill out our contact form. We serve customers in San Francisco and nearby areas.
