Air balancing is an important element of maintaining ideal indoor temperature, air quality, improving energy efficiency and also boosting the overall performance of the air conditioning system. Air balancing, although might sound too fancy, is about delivering the right amount of hot and cold air to various parts of the house – creating a balanced and comfortable home.
If one room feels like a breath of fresh air and the other like a sauna, there is something fundamentally wrong with air balancing in your home. However, your house is not an exception. As frustrating as this may be, but hot and cold spots in the house is a common complaint among homeowners.
Why is it important to have a balance in air flow?
Ask any HVAC expert and they’ll tell you that an unbalanced air flow system can cause a slump in the system’s air throw and efficiency, increase your energy consumption bills, create temperature inconsistencies within a confined space and increase wear and tear of parts of the system.
Hot and cold spots are extremely common, especially in a two-storey setting. Yet, they are easy to combat and rectify. We will start with identifying the problem.
The Reason Behind Hot and Cold Spots in your Home
It could be Physics
Since hot air climbs up and cold air sinks, your upper floors are going to be hotter than the lower levels. This is bound to happen even if your air conditioner is working to its maximum level.
The Structure of the House
Your roof is going to get really hot, and this heat will be transferred to the lower levels. Unless you have immense tree cover, your roof is going to absorb a tonne of heat.
The Ductwork in the House
If the ductwork in your house is poorly installed or leaking, the air conditioner wouldn’t be able to cool down your house evenly.
Single-zone Air Conditioners
A single-zone air conditioning systems are used to cool a single room or a confined space in your house. These separate aircons are not so great at cooling down really hot areas to control temperatures in various rooms.
Old or Faulty Air Conditioners
Air conditioners are not made to last a lifetime, so when they become old and faulty, they tend to lose their efficiency. Replacing old aircons with newer and more energy efficient systems might work in your favour.
Proven Methods to Avoid Hot and Cold Areas in your House
CLEAN FILTERS
A dirty air filter restricts the amount of air flow from the system getting hindered. Cleaning your air filters not only helps in ensuring even air flow, but also in improving indoor air quality. The energy efficiency of your aircon also increases, allowing it to cool down your house efficiently. Besides, when you clean your filters, its life also increases.
PREVENT RESTRICTIONS TO AIRFLOW
If you cover or restrict the air flow with furniture, it is going to impact the air balance. Vents are made to ensure free flow of air, and if these openings are blocked, they impact air circulation. When the vents are kept open, the warm air and cold air get redistributed throughout the house.
FIX YOUR LEAKY DUCTWORK
Believe it or not, most houses have leaky ductwork. Until it starts creating problems, you might not be able to identify its problems. When there is a leaky ductwork, the cold air is not making its way into your house. This, in turn, causes your house to unevenly heat or cool down and increase your energy bills.
ENSURE PROPER INSULATION
Insulation impacts your air conditioner’s performance and makes your house comfortable. A well-built insulation and ventilation help in maintaining heat and cold in the house. When you add extra insulation and a fan to your house, probably in the upper levels, it will help circulate the cold air throughout the house.
USE YOUR CEILING FANS TO THE MAXIMUM
Changing the direction of your ceiling fans can have an impact on increasing even flow of air inside your home. In summer, the ceiling fans should run in counter-clockwise direction to push the cool air downwards. In cooler months, the ceiling fan should run in a clockwise direction to redistribute the hot air.
MINIMISE USE OF HEAT PRODUCING APPLIANCES
All electronic appliances produce heat, and too many are present in the house, they will create hot and cold spots around the house. Places around heat-producing appliances are extremely hot, and no matter how overworked your aircon is, it will not be able to redistribute the heat. Turning off all appliances is a great way to eliminate hot and cold spots.
ADD EXTRA HVAC SYSTEMS
Get your HVAC systems checked properly, and consider getting repairs done to the system, get the filters cleaned, check the duct work, properly seal windows and doors, and allow for enhanced ventilation.
If the current HVAC system is not working at its optimum or if your house is too large for the system, think of installing an additional system or upgrading the current one.
Having a mild variation in temperatures in different rooms is not a cause for concern. Yet, a significant change in temperature that makes you go from feeling hot to putting on a sweater should be looked into thoroughly. These tips will make sure your house does not have hot or cold pockets. For more information on how best to place your air conditioning unit, get in touch with the Aircon Company – the cooling experts.
