If some rooms or areas of your home get too cold or stay too warm when you’re running the cooling system, it’s not a situation you have to settle for. Uneven cooling is often related to specific HVAC system problems that a talented HVAC contractor can identify and solve. Here are three examples of common causes of uneven cooling and how they can be fixed:
Under- or Over-Sized Equipment
If the capacity of your air conditioner or heat pump isn’t sized to match your home’s square footage and unique characteristics, it can be too small or too large to cool effectively. With too little capacity, the equipment simply can’t cool all the space. Equipment with too much capacity will short-cycle repeatedly so it won’t cool your home evenly. Your HVAC pro can do a detailed load calculation to learn the ideal capacity, and offer solutions like updating your equipment or adding ductless mini-splits.
Ineffective Temperature Control
If you have a multi-story or larger home and just one thermostat controlling the cooling system’s operation, it’s almost impossible to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the house. A knowledgeable HVAC pro will likely recommend zoning your HVAC system into two or more manageable cooling areas. The zones are defined with motorized dampers placed in the ductwork, and each zone gets a dedicated thermostat. You control the entire setup from a centrally-situated panel that communicates with the dampers, thermostats and your HVAC equipment.
Air Flow and Distribution Problems
Flaws and inefficiencies in your HVAC air distribution system can result in significant variations in the amount of conditioned air that’s delivered to different rooms. Some common issues are poor ductwork design, leaky or damaged ducts, and unbalanced system airflow. An experienced HVAC contractor can inspect your system and perform various tests to find the underlying cause. Afterwards, they’ll recommended appropriate fixes that might include sealing and insulating the ductwork, adding balancing duct dampers or extra return air ducts, or adjusting the blower fan.