Air conditioning is a great thing to have in your office or building. It helps to maintain an ideal humidity level and can improve the quality of the air circulating the room. However, if you fail to get the correct temperature to areas in your office or building, it can have negative implications. For example, if your office is too hot on a summer’s day or too cold in the winter, it can have a negative impact on employees. This is where air balancing is important! It is just as vital as cleaning your vents in maintaining clean, safe and optimal temperatures.
What is air balancing?
Air balancing is the process of testing your cooling and heating systems. It allows you to spot any issues that could be causing negative air pressure or uneven airflow into areas of the office or building. Testing the airflow will ensure that every room in the building or office will be comfortable. If you have noticed that there is a big change in temperature from one room to the next, or there are spots in the office that are warmer or colder, air balancing will resolve these issues.
While it is likely that your unit will have been fitted professionally, this does not mean that the chance for the air to become imbalanced has been eliminated. This is because the system relies on the ductwork of the building to distribute the cool or warm air to the desired area. Air balance can deteriorate due to minor issues such as the ducting becoming slightly dislodged.
Issues Air Balancing Can Spot
The results of air balance tests will allow you to have a clearer picture of your systems performance. They can create a virtual map of the comfort balance and the air flow in the office. Here are some of the issues that may be spotted through an air balance test:
– Damaged or perforated air duct
– Loss duct joints
– Ducts that are too small
– Ductwork that is too long
– Blockages
– Sharp turns
Why is air balancing important?
If there is an issue with the system or ductwork, it can cause rooms in the office or building to reach temperatures that are uncomfortable. Rooms may become uncomfortably stuffy and humid, or you may feel cold drafts. There are so many reasons as to why air balancing is important:
Comfort
If the airflow in your office is balanced, the temperatures throughout will be even. Therefore, chilly drafts from outdoor air being drawn in will be reduced. This will naturally make it more comfortable for those inside the building, no need for jackets or jumpers for areas of the building that are ‘always cold’. This also links to productivity!
Lower Energy Bills
It is a safe assumption that most people will crank up the heat or lower the A/C temperature when the area you are in feels that the temperature is not comfortable. This will waste energy and consequently bump up the price of your energy bill. If the air flow is corrected through air balancing, there will be no need to turn the heating up! As a result, you will save money on your energy bills.
Better Indoor Quality
When the indoor air flow is low, it can cause a build up of indoor air contaminants such as pollen and mould spores. It can also make rooms feel stale and stuffy. Ensuring that the airflow into the space is balanced will ensure people enjoy a healthier, fresher-smelling air. This will again improve the productivity of your employees as they will not be breathing in harmful contaminants which could leave them taking sick days.
How does air balancing work?
To check the air balance, a technician will test the performance of the system. This will include various different diagnostic tests to test different aspects of the system. Flow hoods will be positioned over the air supply registers to measure the amount of air flowing through. They will then evaluate the air pressure within the system using manometers to determine if there are any blockages. A hygrometer will then be used to gauge the amount of humidity there is in different areas of the building. This data will then be used to generate a report on the system.
Any issues that are found can then be corrected. The most common cause of airflow imbalances is the air leaking out of damaged ducts. Issues such as loose duct joints, small holes, collapsed flex ducts and damaged fibreglass can all be fixed.
Sometimes the air flow imbalance is due to blockages. Blockages are often caused by deteriorating insulation or an object. To resolve this it is as simple as removing the blockage.
In some cases, the airflow imbalance is caused by flaws in the design. This is common in multi-story buildings and can include issues with the ducts being too long, too small or having too many sharp turns. A complete redesign is not always practical or plausible but it is usually possible to redesign the problematic areas.
PAR Refrigeration
Here at PAR Refrigeration, we supply, fit, maintain and repair all aspects of air conditioning and commercial refrigeration systems. If you are having any issues with your air conditioning, or would like to know more about our services, do not hesitate to contact us. Please call 01924 872109 or fill out our online contact form as we will be in touch as soon as possible.
