Blog Layout

When Poor Performance Isn't Your HVAC's Fault: 4 Potential Causes

Admin • Mar 19, 2018

Ventilation and Air Conditioning — Rochester Hills, MI — Briarwood Heating & Cooling

If you have noticed that your home's heating and cooling system is suddenly unable to keep up, it's easy to just chalk it up to age. While HVAC systems do have a life span of expected use, blaming a sudden efficiency problem on age may be a little premature.

Instead, noticing that your home is suddenly feeling too warm or too cool can be a sign that something else is making your system work harder to keep you comfortable. So before you lay the blame on your hardworking HVAC system, take time to rule out the following causes of poor heating and cooling performance.

1. Changes in Home Configuration and Size

In order to work efficiently, your home heating and cooling system has to be properly sized and rated for the square footage and design of your home. Even simple changes in the size or configuration of the home can cause an HVAC system that has previously functioned perfectly to suddenly seem less efficient. Examples of this include:

Removing window coverings that have previously protected the interior from drafts and excessive heat from the sun
Adding or removing walls and doors that change the way heated and cooled air moves through the home
Finishing out basements and attic spaces to create more living space

If you have made these or other changes in your home and suddenly found that your home is no longer as comfortable as it once was, you may have inadvertently created an HVAC issue. The good news is that having your HVAC system performance tested to measure the output and airflow will help you figure out the cause and decide whether or not it is time to invest in a more efficient HVAC system.

2. Blocked or Damaged Ducts

HVAC ducts that reside in your attic, basement, or crawlspace are made of thin metal that can be easily damaged or blocked. If, like many homeowners, you tend to stack these areas full of boxes, excess furniture, and the kid's outgrown toys, it is possible that some ducts became crushed or damaged in the process. In addition to blocking air flow, this type of damage can also cause duct seams to be forced apart, causing air leaks and reduced efficiency.

If your heating and cooling ducts are located in an area where you store things, doing a quick inspection to make sure no damage has occurred is a good plan. If you do spot dented or damaged ducts, having them repaired or replaced can help you restore your system's efficiency.

3. Increased Humidity Levels in the Home

Changes in home humidity levels are another common issue than can cause a noticeable effect on the efficiency of a home heating and cooling system, particularly when moist, humid conditions develop or increase. Common examples of activities that raise home humidity levels include:

Cooking methods that release excess steam into the air, such as making soups or canning food
Taking excessively long showers and baths
Plumbing or roofing leaks that are not quickly repaired

While having a healthy level of humidity in your home is necessary to feel comfortable, too much can make your HVAC system work overtime to compensate, causing higher utility bills and more wear on HVAC components.

4. Random Thermostat Adjustments

Children, spouses, and even visitors can innocently cause heating and cooling systems to seem less efficient. This happens when someone feels too cold or too hot and decides to just make a little adjustment to the thermostat. If this is happening often in your house, start with a gentle request not to adjust the setting and if that doesn't work, you can always install a locking thermostat cover to foil their attempts.

Whatever the reason for your HVAC inefficiency issues, a quick call to Briarwood Heating & Cooling can help you solve the problem and restore that comfortable feeling.

< Older Post Newer Post >