Air balancing is a vital part of maintaining clean, safe and optimal temperatures in a desired building space. Failure to get the correct temperature of air to a location can have negative implications. For example, if you are an office based company, having insufficient AC on a sweltering hot summer’s day can lower your employee concentration level and thus, your productivity. As such, it is necessary to have the correct air balancing for the success of your business.

What Is Air Balancing?

Air balancing is a method of testing your heating and cooling system to spot any problems that are causing uneven airflow or negative air pressure to an area. By successfully testing for balanced airflow, every room in your workplace building will be as comfortable as possible. Although most HVAC units will be fitted professionally, this still does not eliminate the chance for air to become imbalanced. This is because the HVAC system relies on the building’s ductwork to distribute the air it warms or cools to the desired location. Any slight dislodge of the ducting can cause air balancing to deteriorate.

Why Air Balancing Matters

Problems with either the system itself or the ductwork can result in certain rooms never reaching a comfortable temperature. In addition, the room may experience cold drafts or can feel stuffy or humid compared to other parts of the building. With this in mind, we have listed additional reason as to why air balancing matters which can be detailed below:

Greater Comfort

Balanced airflow means even temperatures are provided throughout your building. As a result, fewer chilly drafts are caused by the outdoor air being drawn into the building. Building occupants won’t be forced to put on jackets and sweaters just to use parts of the building that are always chilly. In office buildings and schools in particular, having an even air balanced room can have links to increased productivity.

Better Indoor Quality

Low airflow allows indoor air contaminants, such as pollen and mold spores to build up. It can also leave rooms feeling stale and stuffy. With balanced airflow, everyone in your building will enjoy healthier, fresher-smelling air. In addition, it will keep your building occupants more healthy as they are not breathing in harmful contaminants which, as a result, can lead to lower sick days taken by employees.

Lower Energy Bills

It can be very tempting to crank up the heat or lower the A/C temperature when an area/space never seems to get the correct air flow or temperature. Doing this will only waste energy and will increase your total energy bill cost. However, after correcting your building airflow, you’ll no longer need to unnecessarily turn the heating up. As such, you can save money on energy bills which may have previously been alarmingly expensive.

AC Technician Air Balance Checklist

Typically, a technician will run a ‘TAB’ (testing, adjusting and balancing) test and will bring in diagnostic equipment to test various aspects of your HVAC system’s performance. This can be detailed below:

Manometer to measure static pressure readings and pinpoint any blockages
Measuring the output of conditioned air from supply registers with a flow hood
Hygrometer which is used for checking temperature, humidity, and heat gains and losses

Data is then collected from these tests and are used to draw up a report outlining how well the system is performing any issues that need to be corrected.

Final Points

If our technicians determine that airflow is imbalanced because of a problem with the ducts, they will then discuss with the owner of the property the best course of action to fix it.

The solution may be to simply insulate or seal the ducts. It’s recommended that any air conditioning ducts that have collapsed, have holes or are otherwise damaged, be patched or replaced.

HVAC and air conditioning system design flaws, such as inadequately sized ducts or ductwork that are too long, may require more technical modifications. A complete redesign probably isn’t ideal, but it may be feasible to retrofit the layout of some ducts to even out the flow of air conditioning.

Generally, the process for improving the air balance in your office can be simple as adjusting the fan speeds or control devices and thermostats. Our technicians here at D-Mec are highly trained and qualified to test and troubleshoot any problem in your HVAC system. If you are in need of your HVAC system or AC unit to be tested for air balancing, get in contact with is today

Phone: 01525 852 819Email: info@d-mec.co.uk