Any home that uses forced-air HVAC equipment may need air balancing to improve comfort throughout. The term refers to a procedure that equalizes the air delivery to each room based on its overall requirements for conditioned air.
Not all rooms in your home need the same amount of air. Some may be larger or their exposure to sunlight makes them warmer. All too often, the ductwork design doesn’t take into account these individual differences and some rooms don’t get the right amount. Other causes of air imbalances include ductwork leaks, obstructions inside the duct, or closed-off registers.
How It’s Done
HVAC contractors test the volume of air through each register by using a velometer, a handheld device that indicates air velocity. They also inspect the condition of the ductwork to identify any leaks or obstructions inside the supply and return ducts. If problems exist, the technicians will fix them. However, if there are inadequacies in them, the team has options for air balancing like:
- Increasing the size of the ducts leading to a room or area.
- Adding more ducts and registers.
- Installing dampers inside a run of ductwork to alter the airflow.
- Adjusting the register louvers.
Another option is to install a zoning system for the HVAC system that divides the home into areas that have similar heating and cooling needs. Each zone has its own thermostat that connects to a central control panel.
Automatic zone dampers inside the ducts open and close based on that zone’s need for conditioned air. Zoning solves the problems associated with two-story homes, those with uneven ceiling plates, or with large banks of windows in one particular area.
Benefits
A home with balanced air delivery will be more comfortable year-round and have lower heating and cooling costs. Many people compensate for uneven temperatures at the thermostat, which overheats or cools some parts of the home.
Air balancing solves the problems associated with uneven air delivery. If you’d like to learn more, contact Jackson & Sons. We provide trusted HVAC services for eastern North Carolina homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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