When installed, your Oberlin area home’s airflow likely was balanced. Throughout your house, airflow from your furnace blower was matched by return air pulled back into your HVAC system to be reheated or cooled. Over time, however, your forced-air heating and cooling system can lose its efficiency, leaving you with unbalanced airflow.
Signs of an Unbalanced System
If you notice an especially hot or cold room, you likely have a problem with unbalanced airflow. You can check for more signs of ductwork difficulties:
- Place an ordinary room thermometer over each register. Let the furnace run, then check each thermometer to discover which ducts are blowing hot. Expect temperatures of 110 to 130 degrees; anything less means unbalanced airflow.
- Hold a single-ply facial tissue over each register, observing the flutter. Compare each room to see if air is flowing more in one room than another.
Causes of Unbalanced Airflow
The most common cause for air imbalance is loose seams between sections of ductwork. This can happen over time, as ductwork ages, expands and settles. The previously tight joints loosen, air leaks begin, and your supply and return airflow loses balance. Other problems include:
- Rooms at the end of trunk ducts are often too cool
- Long duct runs may be too much for your aging furnace
- Cracks or punctures in flexible ducts
- Undersized branch ductwork
- Sagging ducts or numerous bends in ducts
The Cure for Unbalanced Airflow
You can relieve some issues yourself. For other problems, consider bringing your HVAC contractor in to repair and re-balance your system.
- For rooms that are too hot, slightly close the registers until the temperature reaches your preference
- For rooms that are too cold, open the registers more fully
- Insulate all visible ductwork
- Inspect visible ductwork for loose seams, air leaks or drooping sections. If you’re confident in your skills, reattach loose ducts.
A professional has the experience and tools to diagnose and correctly balance your home’s airflow. A blower door test, for example, is beyond most homeowners’ ability, but provides valuable insight into sealing air leaks and balancing your HVAC system.
For more guidance with unbalanced ductwork, please contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide skilled HVAC services to Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about unbalanced airflow and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area