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Do you have rooms in your home that are always too hot or too cold? Uneven temperature zones are not only an annoyance, they’re often a sign that a home’s air delivery system is not working correctly. Simply closing or opening vents and adjust the thermostat well above or below where it should be to maintain a comfortable setting is likely to just waste more energy while doing little to improve comfort.
Several factors can contribute to uneven room temperatures, and fortunately, they can all be solved. Here are a few things to check:
Air Delivery System & Ductwork
If airflow to certain parts of the home is out of balance, you’ll experience uneven cooling in those areas. An airflow imbalance also causes your HVAC to work overtime, which in turn will shorten your system’s life and decrease its efficiency.
In order to create a balanced airflow Superior Plumbing & Heating can inspect your home’s ductwork to ensure the system is properly sized. Identifying leaks and blockages is also important, as even small air duct leaks are a contributor to inefficiency and uneven temperatures. An effective solution for leaking air ducts is air duct sealing.
Once the underlying causes of the air delivery imbalance have been identified, repairs or replacement of the ductwork can be made to get the system functioning normally again.
Variable Speed Motors
Variable speed motors provide more even heating and cooling, and allow for more precise control of airflow throughout the home. By moving the air more slowly through the system, variable speed motors can help make a home’s air filtration and moisture control systems more effective. They adjust the system’s output based on the home’s cooling needs. They can also be helpful in situations where uneven cooling is actually desired. If there are rooms in your home that are rarely used, you can save money by keeping them at a slightly higher or lower temperature than the other rooms in your home. This involves “zoning,” which means customizing temperature settings for different areas of the home. In general, variable speed motors are the only systems that allow for zoning within the home.
Air Conditioning Sizing
Just as you’re experiencing discomfort due to uneven temperatures, your system is constantly trying to compensate, which means high utility bills and the potential for costly repairs.
An improperly sized HVAC system may result in uneven cooling. This could be the result of either an incorrect load calculation at the time of the system’s installation or a home’s heating and cooling needs changing over time. For example, it is common that an extra room is added or an area like an attic is converted into living space. If your HVAC system is too small to properly heat or cool your home, uneven temperatures and system failures could result. To determine whether your HVAC system is properly sized, contact Superior Plumbing & Heating for an up-to-date load calculation.