Inspecting for Proper Installation

Most HVAC systems are partially located in spaces that will be inaccessible once the house is complete. Should a duct be crimped, crushed, leaky, or the wrong size, there's not a whole lot that can be done after the sheetrock is installed. It's crucial that the ductwork is installed properly the first time, because there's only one chance to get it right.

The installed system is compared to the specifications of the original design. Every length of ductwork is inspected and verified to be correctly sized and installed according to ACCA's Quality Standard, an ANSI-approved standard for quality HVAC installation.

Prior to drywall installation, the ductwork is pressure tested, much like the plumbing system, to ensure tightness. Should any leakage be found, we inject an artificial smoke into the ducts to enable the leakage points to be identified.

These pre-drywall inspections ensure that after the system is up and going, at the end of the construction process, the correct amount of air will be delivered to each and every room of the house.

Room Airflow Mapping & Balancing

The Manual-J load calculation, completed as part of the mechanical design process, specifies the airflow requirements for each room of the house. The ductwork was designed and sized based on these airflow requirements. But, there's one more step to the process to fine-tune the airflow delivered to each room - balancing.

When installed, all balancing dampers are in their "open" position. Once the system is up and running, some rooms will be getting too much air, while others will have too little. We balance the airflow by adjusting dampers within each duct, measuring the airflow with a ballometer to ensure proper quantity in each room.  After all branch ducts have been dampered, the airflow to each room will be within a few percent of the target airflow needs.

It's this final balancing step that ensures every room will actually be comfortable.

Refrigerant Charge & Combustion Efficiency

After the airflow has been properly balanced and the proper amount of air is flowing through the indoor air-handler, it's time to verify that the heat removal/introduction mechanisms are properly tuned. For heat pumps and air conditioners, having the proper amount of refrigerant within the system is critical for proper performance. This refrigerant "charge" is verified on site by performing a few temperature and pressure tests.

For combustion appliances, like furnaces and boilers, instead of refrigerant, we are focusing on the quantities of fuel and air being mixed together within the combustion chamber. The average brand new furnace, installed according to the manufacturer's instructions, is under-performing by approximately 10-15%. By fine-tuning the balance between fuel and air, we ensure your furnace or boiler will be operating at peak efficiency.