Tag Archives: airflow

Know These HVAC Airflow Problems

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Know These HVAC Airflow ProblemsAirflow problems with your HVAC system can leave you dealing with discomforting issues like hot or cold spots, uneven temperatures in different rooms, and/or a drop in conditioned air output from the registers. What starts out as a gradual loss of comfort can escalate into a costly equipment breakdown or failure, so it’s vital to have the problem addressed. Here’s a look at some of the most common causes or airflow issues and what to do about them:

Obstructed Registers and Duct Openings

If you’ve closed some registers, or your return ducts are covered by furniture, drapes, throw rugs, toys or other items, it can cause temperature inconsistencies in different areas of your home and a damaging imbalance in system airflow. You can fix this by wiping down each vent cover and vacuuming out the duct openings, and then checking that your louvered registers are completely open and all supply and return vents are free from obstructions.

Clogged Air Filter

If you’ve neglected to change your system’s air filter and it’s become clogged by dust and debris, you’ll notice a drop in airflow at the registers. Restricted airflow can also increase your HVAC equipment’s workload and energy consumption, or even ruin a component. Checking the filter monthly and replacing it whenever it looks dirty is the best way to prevent such problems.

Ductwork Flaws

A ductwork system that’s poorly designed, damaged, or leaking can hinder proper airflow through your HVAC system. A trained HVAC technician should inspect your ductwork to determine the cause and the right remedy, which may involve repairing, sealing and insulating or replacing the ductwork.

Oversized Equipment

If your existing HVAC system wasn’t sized properly, it may be too large to effectively heat or cool your home. HVAC components with too much capacity will short cycle, resulting in a decline in airflow from the registers every time they cycle off. To solve this, a knowledgeable HVAC professional will need to complete a detailed load calculation and install correctly-sized new equipment.

 

Contact us at Powers Heating & Air for help solving HVAC airflow problems in your Peachtree City home.

 

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040. 

Why the Right HVAC Placement is Key

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Why the Right HVAC Placement is KeyYou just bought a new HVAC system. Now where do you put it? In the attic or the basement? On the roof, or on the ground? You may not realize it, but the placement of your unit can impact its performance and efficiency. Here are a few tips for optimal HVAC placement:

Outdoors

Most modern A/Cs have both indoor and outdoor units. For HVAC placement, we’ll start with the outdoor. On a hot day, direct sunlight can heat up your system, making it take longer and use more energy as it tries to cool your home. Therefore, you should place it somewhere cooler, where it won’t be in the sun. This is generally the north side of the house. If you put it on another side, you can try creating shade by planting trees around it, but this doesn’t always work, as shade moves throughout the day.

 

But do you place it on the ground or the roof? On the roof, you won’t see the unit, and it’s harder to access. So if there’s a problem, you might not notice it or be able to deal with it right away. Then, by the time you call an HVAC expert to fix it, it’s gotten worse, and more expensive.

 

If you put your unit on the ground, make sure it’s slightly elevated, and keep the grass and other foliage around it neatly trimmed, so that it has a one foot clearance on all sides. Otherwise, that grass and foliage can impede the airflow, wasting energy.

Indoors

So what about the indoor unit? A lot of people put theirs in the attic. This can be a great way to save space. Unfortunately, HVAC placement in any enclosed space could cause hot air to build up, which then ends up in your home, making it more difficult to cool. Wherever you place your unit, make sure there’s good airflow and ventilation, and that it’s easily accessible for repairs and other maintenance.

 

For more help with HVAC placement, contact us at Powers Heating & Air today. We faithfully serve Peachtree City’s heating and cooling needs.

 

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.

 

Why Air Balancing is Necessary for Your Home

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Why Air Balancing is Necessary for Your HomeIf it’s difficult to heat and cool your home evenly and your energy bills have increased, you may fear there’s a serious issue with the furnace, air conditioner or heat pump. When your HVAC technician investigates the problem, you may be surprised to learn that unbalanced system airflow is to blame. Professional air balancing can help remedy the situation and get your HVAC system functioning properly again.

How Professional Air Balancing Works

Balanced airflow isn’t a given, but it’s necessary for your HVAC system to perform at its best. To achieve it, your HVAC equipment and duct system must be accurately sized for the load requirements of your home. The ducts also have to be sized to match the square footage of the rooms they serve, so the correct amount of conditioned air is delivered.

A technician begins the air balancing process by performing a series of diagnostic tests and measurements, such as:

  • Static pressure on both the supply and return sides of the HVAC unit is measured using a manometer.
  • The amount of airflow at each supply and return grille is check using a flow hood.
  • Temperature, humidity and heat gain or loss are measured using a hygrometer.

Based on the test results and data that’s gathered, a technician can determine what improvements are needed to bring airflow back into balance. These necessary steps can include:

  • Correcting any deficiencies, then sealing and insulating your ductwork.
  • Adjusting the blower fan speed.
  • Installing additional return ducts.
  • Making changes to the setup of your air filtration unit, if you have one.
  • Adjusting the existing or adding additional ductwork dampers.
  • Recharging the refrigerant.
  • Cleaning the indoor evaporator coil.

After all the necessary improvements have been completed, your technician will perform additional tests to make sure your airflow is back in balance. Once it is, you’ll see the system’s energy efficiency bounce back, and you’ll have a more comfortable living environment with better humidity and temperature control.

To learn if you could benefit from air balancing the HVAC system in your Peachtree City area home, contact us today at Powers Heating & Air.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air balancing and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “kasiastock/Shutterstock”

Telltale Signs Your Ducts Are Due for Cleaning

Telltale Signs Your Ducts Are Due for CleaningIf you’re like many homeowners, you may be wondering if you should schedule your HVAC tech for a duct cleaning. It depends on a number of factors from home to home, including HVAC usage and care and the types and amounts of contaminants in the home.

If you’ve never had your air ducts cleaned or it’s been several years since, it’s probably worth your time to have the ductwork inspected. Keep reading to see if any of the common telltale signs of contaminated ducts pertain to your situation.

  • Visible mold or mildew: Look inside the supply registers and return grilles for mold and mildew. If you can access the evaporator coil, look for mold on the coil, fins and drip pan. If mold exist in these areas, there’s a good chance mold is present inside the air ducts.
  • Unexplained respiratory ailments: Mysterious respiratory issues are common signs for unhealthy indoor air quality, which could be linked to the air ducts.
  • Household member with respiratory ailments: If a person in your household suffers from respiratory ailments, such as asthma or allergies, duct cleaning may alleviate some of the symptoms.
  • Foul odors: Mold and mildew exude an earthy or musty odor. If mold and mildew are growing inside the air ducts, you’re going to smell it sooner or later.
  • Signs of vermin: Rodents may give off odors as well. Rodents are likely carrying various bacteria and germs and they’ll leave behind feces and body decomposition.
  • Debris discharge from registers: Over time, dirt and debris may become caked along duct walls and boots. Discharge is common when ducts are dirty.
  • Noisy airflow: Whistling sounds and strange noises from the air ducts are a sign that dirt and debris accumulation is obstructing smooth airflow.
  • Unbalanced airflow: Dirt accumulation in boots and branches can cause unbalanced airflow at the supply registers.

If you would like to schedule a duct cleaning evaluation for your Peachtree City home, please contact the HVAC and IAQ experts at Powers Heating & Air.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Yuriy Vlasenko/Shutterstock”

Solar Attic Fan Facts: Why You Should Install One While The Weather Is Cool

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Solar Attic Fan Facts: Why You Should Install One While The Weather Is CoolSolar attic fans reduce extreme attic heat during hot Georgia summers. That’s exactly why our cooler winter season is the best time to install one. In the heat of the summer, attic temperatures soar to 150 degrees—definitely not the ideal time to be up in the attic installing an exhaust fan. Solar exhaust fans boost your attic’s inadequate passive ventilation system, increasing the airflow between soffit vents and roof vents and reducing temperatures as much as 40 degrees.

Getting the job done now positions you to derive a number of benefits next summer when temperatures soar:

  • Acute heat concentrated in the attic conducts through ceilings and can raise the temperature in rooms directly below as much as 10 degrees. This offsets the effect of your air conditioner, causing it to run longer to meet thermostat settings and use more energy. Reducing attic temperatures to 100 degrees or below may result in as many as 10 percent fewer “on” cycles of the central air conditioner during an average summer day.
  • Excessive heat in the attic also deteriorates wooden structural components. Sub-roofing exposed to continuous high temperatures may buckle, eventually resulting in roof leaks.
  • In addition to heat, humid air accumulates in under-ventilated attics. When the air cools at night, condensation soaks attic insulation, degrading its ability to stop heat transfer into the house and providing an environment for mold growth. Condensation also affects the wooden structure of the attic, increasing the probability of warping and wood rot. A solar attic fan exhausts humid air, reducing nighttime condensation.
  • Solar attic fans operate entirely off the sun’s energy during daylight, the hours of greatest heat concentration in the attic. Installation requires no wiring and, since solar power means zero operating cost, all savings from reducing attic heat are returned directly to the homeowner.

Powers Heating & Air serves the Atlanta metro area with HVAC sales and service for year-round comfort. Ask us about more advantages of installing solar attic fans this winter.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about solar attic fans and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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