Issues with your HVAC systems can be among the most frustrating problems to have. Whether your home tends to get really cold in the winter or your office can't get properly cooled in the summer, HVAC issues can be expensive and uncomfortable.
Common Causes of HVAC Inefficiency
Before you can go about solving HVAC problems, you have to identify the cause. Here are four of the most common reasons that HVAC systems are inefficient and how to solve them.
Excessive air leakage
This is one of the more common HVAC problems in older systems with large ducts. As the years go by, the seams of a ventilation system start to slowly deteriorate, letting air out. This forces the operator to run the system at higher and higher levels to get the same amount of hot or cold air.
To solve this problem, it's important to be using an HVAC system that has well-constructed ducts built from the right materials. Although almost any HVAC duct system will deteriorate over time, the best ones will last exponentially longer because they are constructed properly.
Air dumping
This phenomenon is common in large rooms and ones that have higher ceilings. Traditional HVAC systems have a tendency to "dump" air into a specific space constantly, which creates a limited flow that doesn't always reach the entire space. This leads to dramatic variations in temperature, even within a single room.
One way to resolve this is to use a small-duct high velocity HVAC system. The outlets of these systems use a suction force to create a gentle stream of air throughout an entire room, which ensures that you can avoid air dumps and keep your temperature consistent.
Too much humidity
The size of your HVAC system isn't the only factor that determines how well it will perform. Even if your cooling system is the right scale for your building, if it does not remove humidity from the air at a sufficient level, you won't get efficient cooling. This is especially true in areas where the air tends to be humid in the summer months.
There are a few things you can do to resolve this situation, depending on how bad it is. If the humidity levels aren't extremely high but are still causing discomfort, you may be able to improve the situation by purchasing a dehumidifier. However, if there is a serious humidity problem, it may be necessary to repair your system or add a dehumidifying element to it.
Outlets or vents are not located in the right place
When you are planning for the design of your HVAC system, it's important that your vents are put in an area that makes sense. You have to consider the layout of the room, where people will be walking through it, and where any large furniture might be placed. If there is a desk or bookcase located too close to the vent, your heating and cooling systems may not work as well as they should.
This is a fundamental design flaw, so it can be hard to fix. You can rectify this issue by trying to re-arrange objects in the room, if possible. If not, it might be necessary to have your system redesigned, especially if there are other problems that are compounding the issues you are dealing with because of poorly-located vents.
Whether you are having some or all of these HVAC problems, it is important to resolve them as quickly as possible so that you aren't wasting money on your energy bill. One excellent solution for these issues is to use a small-duct high velocity heating and cooling system, which will help you get a top of the line HVAC solution that works dependably all year.
ECI Comfort specializes in installing small-duct, high-velocity systems from Unico. Give us a call at 215-245-3200 for more information, or click the button below to schedule a free consultation.
ECI Comfort specializes in installing small-duct, high-velocity systems from Unico. Give us a call at 215-245-3200 for more information, or click the button below to schedule a free consultation.
