Your central HVAC system is meant to heat and cool your Bellflower, CA home uniformly. When your AC, heat pump, or furnace is on, all rooms should have or reach roughly the same temperature. If you have hot and cold spots throughout the building or if your system’s heating and cooling cycles are much shorter or longer than normal, you might need air balancing. Read on to learn what HVAC air balancing services are, how they’re performed, and when to schedule them.
What Is HVAC Air Balancing?
Air balancing is a series of adjustments that optimize airflow and air delivery. It limits the amount of work HVAC systems must do to create and maintain comfortable and consistent temperatures indoors. It also:
- Reduces HVAC system stress
- Improves indoor air quality (IAQ)
- Lowers home energy bills
- Reduces the risk of costly HVAC problems
Although you might be wondering how to balance HVAC air flow, this job is best left in the hands of HVAC technicians.
One large part of air balancing is strategically adjusting all HVAC air vent and duct damper positions. However, HVAC technicians also look for and correct vent closures, adjust blower fan speeds, inspect and replace air filters, and account for air movement from ceiling fans. As needed, we also inspect, calibrate, and relocate or replace thermostats and add or improve insulation. Air balancing is a complex job that accounts for many household and building-specific factors.
Signs You Need Air Balancing
Long heating and cooling cycles, inexplicably higher energy bills, low indoor air quality, and hot and cold spots are among the most common signs of the need for air balancing. Even high-quality and highly efficient heating and cooling equipment will consistently underperform when airflow and air delivery are poor.
Air Quality
Air balancing ensures that all building areas are properly conditioned and ventilated. If visible dust motes are floating in one or two rooms or if residents are constantly sniffling and sneezing when in these spaces, you may need air balancing.
You’re AC or Heat Pump Doesn’t Turn on When It Should
If most rooms are sweltering but your thermostat registers a comfortably cool temperature, your AC or heat pump won’t turn on. Air balancing optimizes thermostat locations. In a central HVAC system, the location of a single central thermostat can have a considerable impact on HVAC performance.
You’ve Installed New Ceiling Fans
In the summer, setting your ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise will push a cooling breeze down. This makes homes feel cooler than they are. Air balancing also promotes air movement and can force conditioned air into remote and difficult-to-reach spaces. If you’ve recently installed ceiling fans, air balancing will help you get the most from them. If you don’t have ceiling fans, your HVAC technician may recommend installing some.
Your HVAC System Keeps Short Cycling
During short cycling, heaters, air conditioners, and heat pumps cycle on and then rapidly cycle down. Their heating or cooling cycles might last three minutes or less. Short cycling could be a sign of a dirty air filter, dirty heating and cooling coils, blocked ducts, or other airflow problems. Air balancing addresses these airflow issues and more. It also balances static pressure within ducting to limit HVAC system wear.
You Recently Installed an Integrated HVAC Accessory
There are many integrated HVAC accessories that help regulate indoor air quality and humidity when HVAC systems aren’t enough on their own. These include:
- Media filters
- Air purifiers
- Air scrubbers
- Whole-house humidifiers and dehumidifiers
These accessories are installed in or attached to HVAC air ducts. As such, they can significantly impact airflow, in-duct pressure, and air distribution. Upgrading your HVAC air filter’s maximum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating can do the same. If you recently scheduled these or other IAQ improvements, you’ll also need air balancing.
You’ve Tightened Your Home Envelope or Your Envelope Needs Tightening
If your home is riddled with air leaks, much of your conditioned air is escaping outdoors. Whether you’ve recently tightened your home envelope by adding insulation or need to, comprehensive air balancing services can help.
We help residents of Bellflower, CA optimize their home comfort and the efficiency of their HVAC systems. We offer expert air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and attic insulation services. To find out more about air balancing or schedule an appointment, contact Service All-Stars now.
