Is your central air keeping you cool throughout your home? With a balanced HVAC system, the temperature in every room should be consistent when running your A/C. But if you’re feeling a chill or getting too hot in some areas of your house, you may have an air balance problem. This not only impacts comfort, but it may also be responsible for higher energy bills. Learn how to beat those hot and cold spots by identifying the problem and applying the best solution.

Testing the Temperature

Determine whether your central air system is working efficiently by testing the temperature near your vents.

  1. Pick up several indoor room thermometers to run your test.
  2. Pick an especially warm day, at 80 degrees or hotter.
  3. Turn on your A/C and let it run for 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Lay a thermometer on a vent in each of the rooms in your home for five minutes. Record the temperatures.
  5. Place your thermometers on the return vents in each area for five minutes and note the temperatures.

The temperature on the vent pushing out cool air should be about 14 to 20 degrees lower than the readings on the return vents of air flowing in. If this isn’t the case, you may have an issue with your ductwork. This could be the cause of your hot and cold spots and higher-than-necessary cooling costs. It’s time to call in a pro.

Professional Air Balancing

Airflow is key in the performance of your HVAC system, and your ducts are essential in this function. If you have damaged ductwork, air may be escaping rather than flowing through your home. Blockages restrict air flow, also affecting the efficiency of your system. Other potential issues include improper installation, loose duct joints, and excessively long and poorly sized ductwork.

damaged ductwork

An HVAC professional can perform diagnostic testing and inspect your system for air leaks, damage, and issues with the layout of the ductwork in your home to identify the problem and modify your system to fix it. This is what’s known as air balancing. An A/C tech will identify any issues with airflow throughout your home and make adjustments to correct the defects.

In some cases, balancing an A/C system may entail more extensive work. You may need duct repair and renovation to adequately balance your system. The benefits of this work include:

  • More comfortable living space,
  • Better air quality,
  • Enhanced energy efficiency,
  • Lower utility bills, and
  • Increased HVAC equipment lifespan.

With skilled diagnosis and corrective action, your A/C will soon be cooling your home at comfortable temperatures throughout. You’ll enjoy that refreshing cool air and more manageable energy bills. Speak with a One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating technician about testing and balancing your home’s HVAC system to eliminate those hot and cold spots once and for all.