FAQ Category: Understanding Test & Balance

Yes, ductwork that is leaking air occurs when it is installed improperly. This is an important issue to fix because it is costing you money by conditioning an area that doesn’t need to be conditioned. And because duct is located above the ceiling, you’re probably losing conditioned air. This is an issue a TAB service would find and report on. Duct leakage can significantly reduce performance and effectiveness of the HVAC system. It can negatively impact occupant comfort and increase energy use and cost. It is common and expected for general HVAC duct systems to have some amount of air leakage. Sealing for complete airtightness is cost prohibitive and unnecessary in most applications. Somewhere around 5 percent leakage could be considered acceptable for most general duct systems. Greater leakage, such as caused by improper connections and sealing, should be addressed prior to performing the air balance.

Yes, any HVAC system can and should be balanced to ensure proper operation, performance and energy efficiency.

The most common indicators are:

– sweating diffusers
– exterior doors that are hard to open
– uncomfortable temperatures
– drafts
For those facilities with commercial kitchens, smoke-capture problems are a sign.

To correct a system that is over-ventilating, fan speeds are reduced and dampers are set to optimally regulate airflow for design performance with as little static pressure as possible. This reduces load on the motors and the energy required to operate them. An air balance also ensures that systems are not under-ventilating, which can lead to performance, comfort and air-quality issues.

If you’ve ever been bothered by uncomfortable drafts of air or experienced room temperatures that are inconsistent with what the thermostat reads, then you’ll quickly understand why a test and balance is necessary. In short, unbalanced air prevents you from feeling comfortable. TAB ensures that your HVAC system is performing correctly and you have a comfortable and energy-efficient building. It can mean the difference between comfortable and uncomfortable customers and employees, and between wasting and saving money on equipment operation. It also contributes to healthy air quality by ensuring the proper amount of fresh air in the building. Lastly, you want a TAB service performed to be sure the HVAC equipment in the design specifications matches what was actually installed. You wouldn’t believe how often we see this mistake.

HVAC testing and balancing (TAB or air balance) is the process of ensuring that your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is operating properly and delivering the correct air quantities at the air devices inside your building. This involves cycling the equipment on to verify functionality, measuring preliminary airflows, checking fan rotations, adjusting fan speeds, adjusting dampers and measuring final airflows to ensure conformance to design.