Is Your Home In Balance?

 

When your home was built, a qualified heating and cooling contractor was hired to install your heating and cooling system.  The duct work was ran the registers were installed, the furnace was set, piped and wired…Job Well Done, right!?

 

Maybe not.

 

• When your duct was installed did they seal all the seams?

• Did they install balance dampers to adjust the proper amount of air to each room?

• Did they install enough return ducts to reduce drafts and improve furnace performance?

• Did they install a fresh air duct to introduce fresh air into your home year-round?

• Did they use fiberboard and tape which will fall apart in a few years?

• Did they run a short main duct and then use miles of flex duct which creates excessive resistance to air flow and furnace performance?

 

Someone should have been looking out for your investment.  The problem is that residential codes and standards for heating and cooling systems are very relaxed and inconsistent with commercial standards.

 

In the commercial world, there is a minimum amount of fresh air that must be introduced into each building based upon building occupancy.  In the residential world there is no fresh air unless you open your windows.  Try that when its zero outside.  In the commercial world most buildings are air balanced to assure proper air flow to each space.  In the commercial world ducts are sealed to increase unit performance and reduce utility costs.  In the residential world, if sheet metal ducts are used, they are seldom sealed.  A good sign that your ducts are not sealed is the melted frost on your roof just above each register.

 

Your home just might need air balanced.  The importance of air balancing can be explained simply.  A standard home has about seven rooms, each one having its own unique requirements to heat and cool its space.  A well balanced home will deliver the correct amount of air to each space to satisfy its heating and cooling requirements equally.  This will reduce or eliminate hot and cold spots.

 

For the highest quality you should use a company that is certified.  The standard certification bureaus are National Comfort Institute (NCI), National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) and Associated Air Balance Council (AABC).

 

The importance of sealing the duct work is to be able to use all of the heating and cooling energy that your system is producing.  Your furnace is sized in relationship with the requirements of your home’s heating and cooling needs.  If 25% of that energy leaks out into your attic or crawlspace then your furnace will have to run longer to do the same amount of heating or cooling.  In turn your well earned dollar leaks out of your pocket to the utility companies.  Since we all understand dollars and cents, one cubic foot of conditioned air costs about one dollar per year.  The average home furnace moves about 1000 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM) while running.  This calculates to about $1000 a year to heat and cool our homes.  If 25% of this air is lost, not only are you paying for the lost air, but you have to pay to replace it to satisfy your thermostat.  That is why most of us pay closer to $1500 a year in utility costs.

 

Improve the quality of air in your home.  Make the temperature equal throughout your home.  Save energy.  Save money. Cut the cost of your gas and electric utility bills.  Balance your home.

 

Contact Air Wise today – 317-878-7772