Residential Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Study: TAB Benefits both Customer and Contractor
Airflow testing and balancing, or TAB, has long been used in large commercial and industrial HVAC systems to achieve peak system performance. It is becoming increasingly popular among residential customers looking to correct low airflow issues that cause problems like inconsistent temperatures from room to room, poor indoor air quality, poor humidity control, and high utility bills.
An energy efficiency study published by National Comfort Institute examined air balance tests performed on hundreds of existing residential HVAC systems. Some of their findings were surprising:
- The average HVAC system operated at just 48% of its rated
- Less than 10% of the systems were performing above 80%.
- Of the 852 systems tested, 462 owners opted to move forward with improvements recommended by the TAB specialist.
- Upon retesting, HVAC systems that underwent TAB were found to be achieving an average of 83% capacity (up from 48%) and energy efficiency was improved by an average of 34%.
It isn’t just home and building owners that stand to benefit from HVAC testing, adjusting and balancing. The participating TAB contractors’ average sales closing rate for making system upgrades was an impressive 54%. These statistics show that when customers are presented with detailed airflow testing data, they are far more likely to see the benefits of TAB and go ahead with recommended improvements.
Recommended corrective measures can include:
- duct sealing
- repairing ductwork kinks, broken dampers and obstructions
- insulation improvements
- evaporator coil cleaning
- filtration modifications
- fan speed adjustments
- correcting duct and return sizing issues
About E.P. Homiek
E.P. Homiek Sheet Metal Fabrication & HVAC Supply, with two convenient locations in Lakewood, NJ and Union, NJ, provides one- to two-day turnaround on all residential and light commercial ductwork, as well as one- to two-hour emergency fabrication service, rapid delivery, and competitive prices. HVAC parts, supplies, and equipment lines include Goodman, Honeywell, Bryant, Bradford White, Crown Boiler, Daikin, Weil-McLain, York Commercial, Sea Breeze, Generac, Fantech, ZM, A.O. Smith, Hart & Cooley, Malco, Mueller, and many more.
