(Source: American Aldes.)įigure 3. A constant airflow regulator is fitted into the neck of the supply duct to control air flow to deliver the design airflow regardless of pressure variations. Figure 2. Constant airflow regulators, available in various duct sizes (4, 5, 6, 8, and 10-in.) and three pressure classes (low, medium, and high), deliver the design airflow across a wide range of pressures. Follow manufacturer’s sizing and installation instructions. The retrofit can be accomplished from within the room by removing the grille of the register and installing the cartridge in the neck of the diffuser (Figure 3). If the total flow of a system is proportionally controlled with an appropriately sized regulator in the neck of each register, the system will remain balanced within the range of pressures for which the regulators are specified. These dampers use an airfoil that self-adjusts to deliver no more than the maximum design flow, regardless of pressure variations (Figure 2).
Perfect balance indoor return air pathway manual#
Where manual dampers are inaccessible or missing, consider installing passive airflow regulation devices (Figure 1). Too many closed dampers can lead to inadequate airflow through the furnace/air handler and result in HVAC equipment malfunction this is most critical during cooling season since it can ice up the evaporator. Caution: balancing dampers and register controls are intended to fine-tune airflows but are not intended to correct significant duct sizing errors.Note that this approach can result in unacceptable noise at the registers (e.g., whistling) due to increased air velocity. If supply branch dampers are not installed or accessible (e.g., due to a finished basement ceiling or ducts installed within floors) minor air balance adjustments can be made by strategically opening and closing the dampers within the ceiling/floor supply registers.These trunk dampers also allow seasonal adjustment for instance, to deliver less air upstairs during the heating season and more air upstairs during the cooling season. This is a common solution for two-story houses where one trunk serves the first floor and another trunk serves the second floor. Alternatively, manual balancing dampers in supply trunk ducts provide air balance control to different areas or zones of the house (rather than individual rooms).If so, incrementally adjust the dampers to reduce airflow to the comfortable rooms and thereby increase airflow to the uncomfortable room(s). Ideally, each supply branch duct should already have a manual balancing damper, typically located at the supply trunk take-off, to adjust airflow to each room.Sometimes the problem is a poorly balanced supply air system. Check that all bedrooms have either adequate door undercuts to allow equalization when rooms are closed or have a transfer grille installed through a wall or a jump duct installed above the ceiling to allow circulation back to the public space and then to the central air handler.If the return path is a transfer through a wall, ceiling, or floor to a mechanical room (often referred to as a “wild” return), increase the grille size, but be sure to supply a Z-duct, a 90-degree collar, or at least a baffle to reduce noise.If it’s not possible to enlarge the return path, see if there is an alternate route to add a second return path.If the return grille and duct are too small, check to see if they can be enlarged.Confirm the grille is sized properly per ACCA Manual D.Check to make sure that furniture or storage is not blocking the return air grille if it is located low on a wall.Sometimes poor circulation is due to the lack of a properly sized (low pressure) return air path back to the air handler. Here are a few upgrades that can improve circulation and air distribution coverage, allowing the system to operate closer to design for better performance and efficiency. Once ductwork is installed and trapped behind drywall and other finishes, it is very difficult to make changes. Figure 1. A constant airflow regulator is a modulating orifice that automatically regulates airflows in duct systems to constant levels. An unbalanced, ducted HVAC system can result in wasted energy and poor thermal control. Pressure testing as part of a whole-house energy assessment can determine whether the house is pressures are unbalanced. One cause of these problems could be pressure differences between rooms. In existing homes, homeowners may sometimes experience strong drafts, temperature differences between rooms, poor air circulation, or central forced air systems that seemed to be noisier or working harder than they need to.
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