Air Balancing: What You Should Know

Air balancing restores the equilibrium of comfort and efficiency throughout your home. When your central HVAC system was installed, the volume and velocity of air circulating throughout the system was carefully calculated to ensure that each room maintained a consistent temperature.

Over time, however, many factors may cause the system to drift out of balance: leaks from ductwork, reduction in blower output, outdoor air infiltration and other changes. The ultimate result may be a home where rooms located furthest from the furnace or A/C don’t get enough temperature-controlled air while those closest to the units may get too much.

An unbalanced HVAC system also uses more energy, gets more wear and tear and doesn’t maintain ideal air quality. Air balancing by a qualified professional brings the system back into equilibrium and restores original performance and efficiency.

Here’s a basic overview of the process:

• With a new air filter installed and the system running, temperatures in every room of the house are measured and recorded. Blower speed is also checked and compared to original specifications.
• Cubic feet per minute of airflow into each room through the supply vents is measured using a balancing hood. The volume of air leaving each room through the return vents is also checked.
• Where an imbalance is detected—too much air volume entering or leaving a room or not enough—the technician can adjust internal dampers in the ductwork to decrease or increase airflow to the individual room. Blower speed may also be regulated to alter air volume through the entire system.
• As airflow to each room is interdependent, the process requires making adjustments throughout the entire system as well as multiple measurements to bring temperature and airflow in each room into perfect balance.
• To restore optimum balance, other issues that typically affect airflow may also need to be addressed such as the condition of ductwork and the system blower.

For more information about air balancing and to schedule a checkup by a qualified HVAC professional, in Middletown contact C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air balancing and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 845-367-4482.

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