With forced-air systems, achieving ideal air balance is important in maintaining comfort throughout your home. While many may believe that air is evenly distributed throughout their homes at all times, this often is not the case. In fact, if you walk around your home right now, you’ll probably notice that there are spots where very little air flow occurs, while other spots may get plenty.

There are a number of factors to consider when attempting to achieve such. From clogged ducts to damaged parts, maintaining your HVAC system can ensure ideal air balance in your home.

Inspect Your Air Filters

One great place to start when taking stock of your household’s air balance is air filter inspection. Air filters act as gatekeepers between your HVAC system and contaminants such as dust, dirt, and mold. Eventually, though, your air filters will wear off over time. As a result, not only can contaminants make their way into your HVAC system, but they’ll also clog up your air filter. As a result, this makes breathing in the air more difficult and harmful over time.

It also can affect the air balance in your home. With clogged ducts and vents around your home, it makes the circulation of air quite difficult to be evenly distributed. This in turn can lead to spots of extremely cold air, while other spots receive no air conditioning. It ultimately can create an uncomfortable environment for all members of your household.

Amidst the summer, consider inspecting your air filter. While it’s generally recommended that you replace your air filter every 90 days, changing it every month during heavy use (during summer mostly) may also be a good idea. 

Examine Your Air Ducts

Your residential HVAC system is composed of many different parts. And like the human body, each part of the HVAC system has its own functions. However, it’s important to be aware of said functions. For example, the evaporator coil is what cools the refrigerant (a chemical to cool the air), which will ultimately remove the heat from your home. 

This process, however, creates a lot of condensation. Said condensation eventually builds up in your system’s drain pan — and if left unattended, can spell disaster. It can be a breeding ground for bacteria, fungus, legionella, and other nasty contaminants. On top of that, the water can lead to clogs in the system, thus allowing for poor air balance once again.

You may also want to inspect all other parts for signs of visible wear and tear. These include any form of warping, holes, and other physical blemishes that ultimately limit the power and capacity of your HVAC system. Holes in particular are a huge offender for poor air balance, as precious air goes to waste while running your AC, especially in the summer.

Check Insulation

If you’re experiencing drafts or any cold spots in your house, not only do you have poor air balance, but you also might have insulation problems.

According to energy.gov, “Insulation in your home provides resistance to heat flow and lowers your heating and cooling costs.” Furthermore, “Properly insulating your home not only reduces heating and cooling costs, but also improves comfort.” In turn, damaged insulation could be the main offender in causing spotty air.

On top of properly heating your home, however, insulation plays a main role in maintaining healthy indoor air quality by filtering out dangerous contaminants. Without proper insulation, members of your household become 2-5x more prone to ailments including sore throat, coughing, fatigue, asthma complications, irritated lung and heart conditions, and more.

Replacing Damaged Parts

If you notice any parts of your home’s HVAC system are damaged, it may mean it’s time to start replacing them. As previously mentioned, not only do damaged parts like air filters and insulation pose a risk to your indoor air quality, but they also pose a risk to your home’s air balance. 

While identifying all parts of your HVAC system aren’t diagnosable by yourself, having a professional take a look and give their expert opinion can help you make a more informed decision.

How Air Ideal Can Help You with Air Balance

At Air Ideal, we are proud to offer exceptional service with our top-of-the-line trained professionals and technicians. Our team members are able to identify problems in your HVAC system and eventually replace what is needed, so that you and your family can enjoy healthy indoor air quality and ideal air balance.

To learn more about how Air Ideal can help you, please visit our website and contact us today!