Air balancing refers to efforts made to ensure that an HVAC system evenly distributes the desired hot or cold air throughout a property, providing a comfortable environment for occupants. If you have differences in temperature within the same room and between different rooms and floors, there is an air balancing problem.
When there is proper balancing, it also means that the HVAC system is running efficiently, meaning you are achieving optimal energy consumption. Where the system is struggling to regulate temperature properly, there will be less efficiency and higher utility bills. It can also lead to more breakdowns in the HVAC system, incurring more costs for repairs.
Victor Rancour of Absolute Airflow in Riverside explains, “Air balancing problems are usually caused by an error or misalignment in the HVAC system. These systems are made up of multiple elements and controls. It can take a while to pinpoint where an adjustment should be made to achieve the right balance within the system.”
It is also possible that some problems could later arise after installation that warrant air balancing inspection and correction. Such issues can include:
- Blockages
- Damaged air ducts
- Loose duct joints
- Undersized or overly long ducts
Fixing Air Balancing Problems
Correcting air balancing problems often requires minor tweaks to the system, such as adjusting dampers or fan speed, sealing a duct, or setting a 2-degree offset between floors. However, in some cases, more extensive and expensive work may need to be undertaken, such as when you find that a duct is undersized or may have collapsed.
As a homeowner, you may only be able to resolve problems related to adjusting dampers. This means going to the room receiving more conditioned air than you would like and using the attached lever to close the diverter. This closure would reduce the amount of conditioned air entering the room and force the system to push more conditioned air into other rooms in the house.
If you can access the dampers on the duct lines, you may be able to open or close them to regulate better the amount of conditioned air that passes through to the rooms supplied by that line. This kind of adjustment is typical to do when seasons change.
When to Call in a Professional
An HVAC specialist, such as Watkins Heating & Cooling, would have to be called in for problems beyond this. This professional will come with the necessary tools and expertise for conducting testing and measurements needed to determine what and where the problem is located. While they might suggest simple fixes like adjusting dampers, the situation may warrant more extensive work to achieve air balancing. This could involve replacing ducts, replacing the AC, electrical work, and installing dampers where there were none.
With a professional, you stand a better chance of ensuring your entire property is more comfortable for occupation as a comprehensive assessment is made. They also ensure that your HVAC system is operating more efficiently, thus helping to reduce utility costs where they may have risen.
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