Your HVAC system relies on air movement to heat and cool your home. However, it’s not just a matter of moving air into and out of the system but ensuring that there’s proper balance for the air movement throughout your home.
Air balancing is a process by which an HVAC technician adjusts how air flows to and from your HVAC system. Technicians consider both how much air flows into the system through return vents and how much flows out through supply vents.
Part of how your system works to distribute conditioned air is because of the air pressure created by both supply and return vents. Supply vents create positive air pressure whereas return vents create negative air pressure. Positive pressure tends to move toward negative air pressure, which causes the conditioned air to move throughout your home. Following are 5 reasons why this matters.
1. Home Comfort
One of the challenges to heating and cooling your home is keeping a consistent temperature throughout the entire space. When warm or cool air comes from the supply vents, it may spread a little to the space around it. With proper air balancing, that conditioned air will move throughout your home, so your home will remain at a more consistent temperature from room to room and will generally be more comfortable.
2. Reduced Heating and Cooling Bills
When air doesn’t circulate well around your home, it may take longer for the conditioned air to reach the thermostat. This may cause your system to run longer heating and cooling cycles, driving up your energy bills. Additionally, when people aren’t comfortable, they tend to make adjustments to their thermostat to achieve the comfort level they’re seeking, further driving up heating and cooling costs. With the improved comfort that comes with effective air balancing, you’ll help reduce your energy bills.
3. Air Quality
Your HVAC system helps improve your indoor air quality by removing airborne contaminants as the air moves through the filter. To perform its job well, it must have adequate airflow but must also have adequate circulation throughout your home. The better your home’s air balance is, the more effectively your system will filter air from around your entire home.
4. HVAC Repairs and Lifespan
With proper maintenance, the average lifespan for modern gas furnaces, central air conditioners, and central heat pumps is 15 to 20 years. During that lifespan, you will have some repairs when components wear out. However, the longer cycles that poor air balancing causes add strain and excess wear to the system. This inevitably leads to more repairs more quickly, and tipping the equations that signal when it’s time for a replacement prematurely. Simply ensuring you have good air balancing helps your HVAC system reach its intended service life while reducing the repairs it needs along the way.
5. Less Noise
When an HVAC system has inadequate air balancing, it can cause excess noise like whistling and banging. Whistling may emanate from airflow restrictions caused by an improperly balanced system. Banging from air balancing issues may occur because of excess pressure in the ducts. Keeping your system properly balanced helps prevent many abnormal sounds.
Common Issues with Air Balancing
There are four common issues that many houses experience with air balancing. The first is closed vents in an effort to help better heat and cool a home. The extreme difference in air temperature is often caused by the second issue, which is closed doors without adequate return ducting. The third issue is restricted airflow caused by a clogged air filter. This prevents sufficient air pressure from developing at the supply or return vents.
Remember, check your air filters monthly and change them when they become sufficiently dirty. The final issue is restricted airflow causing problems with the circulating fan, such as being dirty or off balance. These problems are often either resolved or caught during routine HVAC maintenance, so make sure that you’re getting the appropriate maintenance for your system.
People around Austin have turned to Totally Cool Heating & Air to keep their homes comfortable for more than 35 years. Our team provides heating and cooling installation, maintenance, and repair along with indoor air quality solutions, attic insulation, and duct sealing and replacement. Call to schedule a consultation with one of our expert technicians to explore the air balance in your home and make a plan for correcting it.
