Are you among those who are irritated because of inadequate cooling
in their house? Does your house have cooling that is uneven, even if the
thermostat has been set right to give just enough cooling to keep you
comfortable? Do you keep opening and closing the vents or adjusting your
thermostat to maintain the right amount of cooling within your house?
If yes, then this uneven cooling is due to uneven airflow in the house.
Hot and cold spots in various parts of the house are annoying and
depict inefficient cooling systems. Uneven airflow, which causes uneven
cooling inside the house, can cause harm to your HVAC systems. It not
only increases your energy costs, but also reduces the working life of
your systems.
Factors That Cause Uneven Cooling
There are numerous factors that can cause uneven cooling. Some common ones are:
1. Ductwork: If the flow of air in certain parts of
the house is imbalanced, you will experience uneven cooling. This
airflow imbalance also could be due to ducts of improper size, and/or
leaks and blockages in the ducts.
Remedy: If the ducts are not properly sized, you
will need to replace them with ones of the correct size. Blockages and
leaks, if identified, need to be removed to restore proper airflow. All
these problems can be promptly fixed by the HVAC technician. He will
find the underlying causes for the imbalance and do the needful.
2. Speed motors: Uneven cooling or heating could
occur due to the speed motor in the air conditioner. Check to see if
your speed motor is a variable speed motor.
Remedy: If your system does not have a variable
speed motor, replace the existing motor with one. This type of motor
provides even heating and cooling. It also allows for better control of
airflow throughout the house. The motor moves the air slowly through the
system, helping the air filtration and moisture control systems work
more effectively and efficiently.
3. Size of the air conditioner: The more you
experience discomfort with uneven cooling, the system too is trying to
compensate for the cooling by working more. This extra effort by the
system is likely to increase the energy bills and reduce the life of you
system. Improper size of the system can be a major cause for uneven
cooling. Incorrect load calculation at the time of installation or
significant change in the heating or cooling needs since installation
could be the cause of uneven cooling. A system of lesser capacity than
what are required provides inadequate and uneven cooling.
Remedy: Check if the system you are using for cooling your indoors is one of the right and required size, and replace if necessary.
Home Energy Audit
Do you know that there is professional service that could save you
all the hassles of heating and cooling systems? This service is
especially beneficial for houses that have uneven heating and cooling of
indoors.
This service is known as the ‘home energy audit’ or a ‘professional energy audit.’
A home energy audit presents a comprehensive picture of the state of
the heating and cooling system that is fitted in your home. This audit
is conducted by a professional HVAC technician. Many professionals offer
such an assessment free of cost.
A reputed energy auditor can assess your home systems and identify
the areas that cause the uneven heating or cooling problems. He may also
perform some tests, like the blower test. The blower door test will
determine the air infiltration rate of your house. If your energy bills
are high, such an auditor will be able to identify the cause for the
problem and correct it as well.
It is highly recommended that houses that have uneven heating and
cooling should opt for an energy audit, especially after your area has
had a harsh winter. This is the time when issues related to the ducts,
thermostat settings, worn-out indoor weather seals and water leaks are
most prevalent.
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