Your HVAC Woes May Be Caused By Poor Air Balancing

If you're experiencing hot and cold spots, high humidity even with the A/C on, or higher energy bills, you may think your HVAC system is the source of the problems. However, in some cases the issue may not be your air conditioner or furnace but poor airflow in your home. Here's more information about this issue and what can be done to fix it.

The Importance of Proper Air Balance

Air balance refers to how well the air flows throughout your home and whether the indoor pressure is at a healthy level. When these two things are out of whack, they can cause a number of problems for both your home and your health.

Poor airflow can make it difficult for treated air to reach all the areas in your home, which is a common cause of hot and cold spots. The lack of circulation decreases air quality and increases humidity because the air is not being pushed through the system fast or evenly enough to remove contaminants and excess moisture.

Negative pressure is also a consequence of an air imbalance. When you have negative pressure in your home, it's like the building has been vacuum sealed. In addition to making it difficult to open doors and windows, negative pressure increases your risk of suffering carbon monoxide poisoning because the gas that would normally be expelled from the places it's generated (e.g. furnaces, boilers, water heaters) gets sucked back in as the building tries to grab air from anywhere to even out the pressure in the home.

Because of these dangers, diagnosing and fixing an air imbalance as soon as possible is critical to your health and your wallet.

Fixing Air Balance Issues

Air balancing is best done by a professional because there are a number of factors that affect both air circulation and pressure in your home. For instance, poor airflow is often caused by problems with the duct system, more specifically with malfunctioning dampers that may be stopping air from reaching parts of the building. Sometimes the system itself wasn't sized big enough to treat your home, in which case you would need to replace the entire unit to fix the problem.

However, there are a few things you can do that may alleviate some of the problem. Dirty and/or clogged air filters, exhaust fans, and coils can block the passage of air through your HVAC equipment; thus, taking time to thoroughly clean these items may improve air circulation. Checking for and patching leaks in areas where the air comes into the home can also be beneficial as this will prevent air from escaping as quickly as it enters the space.

To learn more about air balancing or for help with your HVAC system, contact a knowledgeable technician in your area. Companies like AC Service Today can offer more information.