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Is It Helpful To Close Vents in Unoccupied Rooms?

Written by Kevin on . Posted in General Advice. No Comments on Is It Helpful To Close Vents in Unoccupied Rooms?

As a business owner or facility manager, cutting costs while maintaining comfort is a constant priority. You may have heard the idea to close vents in unused rooms in order to reduce energy bills… but does this method really work in commercial buildings?

The short answer: no. In fact, closing vents could harm the HVAC system and increase costs over time. Interstate AC Service explains why this common myth doesn’t work and offers better alternatives for energy savings in your commercial space.

Why Closing Vents Can Hurt Your Business

Commercial HVAC systems are designed to handle a specific airflow, based on the size and layout of your building. Closing vents in unoccupied rooms disrupts this balance, creating unnecessary pressure in the ductwork. This added strain forces your system to work harder, which increases energy consumption and accelerates wear and tear on components.

For example, if vents are close in offices, warehouses, or conference rooms, the HVAC system continues to pull in the same volume of air, but now it has fewer outlets to release it.

Over time, this imbalance can lead to serious issues, including:

  • Cracked Ductwork: Increased pressure can cause leaks, reducing efficiency and creating air quality problems.
  • Higher Utility Bills: Paradoxically, your system works harder and uses more energy when vents are closed.
  • Mold Growth: Condensation builds up in improperly ventilated areas, leading to mold and mildew.
  • Damaged Components: Overworked motors, heat exchangers and evaporator coils can fail prematurely, resulting in expensive repairs.

Rather than saving money, closing vents increases maintenance costs and shortens the lifespan of your HVAC equipment – a lose-lose for your business.

Alternatives: Smarter Energy-Saving Strategies

If closing vents isn’t the answer, what can you do to reduce heating and cooling costs in your commercial building? Here are a few proven strategies that deliver:

  • Schedule professional inspections and tune-ups at least once a year. A clean, well-maintained system runs more efficiently, lowering energy costs and avoiding expensive repairs.
  • Modern commercial HVAC systems can be upgraded with zoning capabilities, allowing you to adjust temperatures independently in different areas based on occupancy.
  • Programmable thermostats allow you to set specific temperatures for certain hours, ensuring energy isn’t wasted when spaces are unoccupied.
  • Check windows, doors and walls for drafts or leaks, which force your system to overcompensate.
  • Unplug unused office equipment, turn off lights in empty rooms, and use ceiling fans to improve airflow. Small changes add up to significant savings.

By adopting these habits, your business space can improve energy use without risking HVAC damage or system downtime.

Partner With Interstate AC Service for Expert Care

So, is it helpful to close vents in unoccupied rooms? No. While it may sound like a simple fix, it creates more problems than solutions for your commercial HVAC system. Instead, let Interstate AC help you implement smarter energy-saving measures tailored to your building’s needs.

Our technicians specialize in commercial HVAC systems, offering maintenance, repairs and upgrades designed to reduce costs and maximize comfort. Call us today at (615) 802-COOL (2665) to schedule a consultation or request a free estimate.

The Role of HVAC in Indoor Air Quality Management

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Have you noticed an increase in your employees’ allergies or sick days? If so, you’ll benefit from understanding how to improve air quality in commercial buildings. At Interstate AC, we’ve served the community for over 20 years and can efficiently tackle jobs of any complexity.

What Is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?

Indoor air quality includes the temperature, airflow, humidity levels, and pollutants in a building’s air. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates Americans spend roughly 87% of their time indoors. Consequently, indoor air often affects a person’s health more than outdoor air.

Indoor air pollution affects your employees’ health, satisfaction, and productivity. From reducing volatile organic compounds to regulating humidity, IAQ remains an important aspect of occupational safety.

Signs Your Company Has Poor Air Quality

How do you know you should improve air quality in commercial buildings?

Increased Health Issues

The most long-term effects of poor air filtration in a commercial office building include persistent health problems. The least severe consequences include a rise in allergy symptoms like a runny nose, scratchy throat, and itchy eyes. However, even minor symptoms can significantly reduce how efficiently your employees work.

Prolonged exposure to low-quality building air can have serious consequences for your workforce. A polluted indoor environment can produce the following health complications:

  • Coughing, wheezing, and trouble breathing
  • An increase in the frequency and severity of asthma attacks
  • A burning sensation in the chest
  • Eye and throat irritation
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema
  • An increased vulnerability to breast or lung cancer
  • An enhanced risk of heart attack

Uncomfortable Work Conditions

Employees thrive in office buildings with good indoor air quality. If the air quality is poor, your workers may notice a spike in relative humidity. When the level surpasses 60%, it can feel like working in a tropical jungle.

When an HVAC system doesn’t perform well, it may not have adequate air movement, which can cause your employees to feel too hot or cold. Uncomfortable indoor environments can also make it difficult for workers to concentrate.

Poor HVAC Equipment and Ventilation System Performance

HVAC systems that don’t perform well often lead to a poor indoor environment. A system may operate poorly because of dirt buildup or blocked air vents. Dirt and dust can contain indoor air contaminants, making maintaining indoor air quality impossible. When a commercial building has subpar HVAC systems, health complications aren’t far behind.

Unpleasant Smells

While not all indoor air pollutants (like carbon monoxide) create foul smells, mold, and other biological contaminants often do. These smells can distract from an office environment and indicate the presence of air pollution that can spread health complications throughout a commercial building.

How To Improve Indoor Air Quality in Commercial Buildings

Do you want to improve office air quality? Growing office plants and regularly dusting your office furniture can help, but don’t overlook the important role heating, cooling, and ductwork play in maintaining good indoor air quality.

Clean Your Air Ducts

If you want to improve air quality in commercial buildings, clean your air ducts every three to five years. If you notice the signs you have poor air in your office building, you should schedule duct cleaning more frequently. If you live in an area with poor outdoor air quality, you should also consider scheduling cleaning more often.

When dust builds up in your ducts or vents, exhaust fans blow it throughout your building. Investing in clean ductwork can help you improve indoor air quality throughout your building.

Change Your Air Filters

Improving indoor air quality requires regularly changing your system’s air filters. The air filter helps mitigate the effects of poor outdoor air quality by trapping dust and particulates before they enter your ductwork.

You can find air filters that only require cleaning or changing every three months, but you should change most filters every 30 days. Certain factors can increase how frequently you should change your filter, including:

  • Employees who smoke near the building
  • Allowing pets on the premises
  • Living in a polluted area
  • Not dusting or vacuuming frequently

Schedule Annual Furnace and Air Conditioning Maintenance

Routine HVAC maintenance plays an important role in maintaining indoor air quality. By scheduling maintenance for every HVAC device at least once a year, you ensure it continues to regulate humidity, maintain great airflow, and filter pollutants. This also saves you money in the long term by keeping your energy bills low, reducing the frequency of repairs, and extending the life of your device.

Install Filtration Systems

The Environmental Protection Agency identifies building-wide systems like an air purifier or indoor air quality sensors as one of the best ways to maintain adequate air quality. While your air conditioning and furnace play a pivotal role, the devices can’t handle all the purification you need.

Call Interstate AC To Improve the Quality of Your Indoor Air

Are you a building manager who wants to improve air quality in commercial buildings? Reach out to Interstate AC.

Whether you want us to install an air purifier or need help controlling relative humidity, you’ll love our dedication to customer satisfaction. Building managers love us because we make HVAC repairs, installation, and maintenance stress-free.

Schedule service by calling 615-802-COOL (2665).

Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have questions about why a building owner should improve the air quality in an office space, consider the answers to the topic’s most common questions we’ve provided below.

Does Poor Indoor Air Quality Violate OSHA Standards?

Poor indoor air quality can violate the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards if the particulate matter reaches 500 parts per million. OSHA and the Environmental Protection Agency require office buildings to maintain these standards.

What Are the Major Indoor Pollutants?

Major indoor pollutants include secondhand smoke, building materials like asbestos, gaseous pollutants from gas stoves, and particulate matter like dust mites.

Why Should Building Management Improve Air Quality in Commercial Buildings?

Building management should improve air quality in commercial buildings to keep workers healthy, satisfied, and productive.

How To Maximize Energy Efficiency in Your Commercial HVAC System

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Forward-thinking business owners see how valuable it is to improve energy efficiency in building infrastructure, but where do they start when assessing their organization’s energy usage? Saving energy can be a monumental task, but think of it as baby steps to achieve an energy-efficient building. If you’re willing to steadily reach new goals each year, each of those energy savings will add up – including in your commercial HVAC system.

Below, Interstate AC outlines ways to reduce energy consumption in your commercial property.

Energy-Efficient Buildings Use Insulation for Consistent HVAC Cost Savings

While not everyone can tear down and rebuild existing buildings, you can use less energy with some environmental design enhancements. First, seal hidden air leaks that allow conditioned air to escape your building. These small openings and drafts can seriously increase your power bill.

Large industrial plants are particularly susceptible to forgotten drafty areas because of the vast square footage. Installing energy-efficient windows and quality insulation helps. Any energy-efficient building keeps warmed or cooled air safely indoors.

A Conscious Business Owner Pays HVAC Maintenance Costs for Lower Energy Consumption

Feeling overwhelmed by heating and cooling costs? Some business owners might take that as an excuse to skimp on annual maintenance, but putting off tune-ups for just a few years instantly makes your commercial building less energy-efficient. Filter changes, maintenance sessions, and prompt HVAC fixes also lower your building’s energy use while ensuring healthier indoor air quality.

After all, well-oiled, regularly serviced HVAC equipment is the key to an energy-efficient building. Tactics like space heating to enhance climate control work, too.

An Energy-Efficient Building Integrates Renewable Energy Sources to Lower Its Daily Energy Usage

Have you thought about harnessing the sun’s energy and other natural resources in your quest for commercial energy savings? The industrial sector reaps significant benefits from renewable energy choices while helping the earth.

Why not consider solar panels for a more energy-efficient building with lower carbon emissions, particularly if your factory or warehouse has a flat roof?

Commercial Building Owners Improve Energy Efficiency in Building HVAC Infrastructure With More Efficient Equipment

Pioneering green buildings starts by phasing out incandescent bulbs in favor of light bulbs that conserve more energy. The Department of Energy confirms that traditional electrical light can increase a building’s energy bills by up to 30%. Alternatives like LED lighting, on the other hand, can reduce energy use by a whopping 75%.

Save money, and spring for energy-efficient, sustainable lighting designs across all your commercial buildings!

Tips To Outfit Commercial Buildings With Quality, Modern Heating and Cooling Systems

Is your commercial heating and cooling system relentlessly wearing down your allocated repair budget? Newer, more energy-efficient systems guzzle fewer resources and run much better than old HVACs.

Your business’s outdated mechanical systems depend on a constant supply of natural gas or electricity to cool and heat well, and this process emits carbon dioxide. This gas traps more heat in the earth’s atmosphere, and that means your business is directly contributing to the Greenhouse Effect.

Stay calm; learning to improve energy efficiency in building-related processes helps. For example, an energy-efficient building harnesses improvements like:

  • Solid ductwork: Brittle, aging ducts puncture and fracture. You might not find out about these tiny openings for months or years after they’ve let out conditioned air that should be going through your building’s vents.
  • Smart thermostats: Control the temperature from any location on-site or away from the office. That way, the thermostat setting keeps everyone on-site comfortable without running up the bills.
  • Newer equipment: How old is your current system? Commercial HVACs can last 15 to 20 years with diligent maintenance and lessen your business’s carbon footprint. More energy-efficient equipment choices include heat pumps and ductless systems, so be sure to ask about them.

Modern energy recovery ventilation enhancements also help to balance air input and output, optimizing energy usage and air quality.

Where Should You Begin in Your Building or HVAC?

An energy-efficient building takes time. Start with an energy audit, which is like a blueprint that reveals:

  • Utility bill-spiking factors
  • Power-guzzling building areas or appliances
  • Where energy changes are possible, like new heating and cooling equipment

Strategize step-by-step changes to your building using your audit results as a reference. If that assessment recommends new commercial HVAC equipment, turn to Interstate AC for business-focused HVAC expertise.

Interstate AC Can Install the HVAC Industry’s Most Cost-Effective Technologies in Your Business

Our technicians do more than install basic heating and cooling systems or energy-efficient lighting – we’re here to help your business save energy costs, money, and the earth. When you enhance your building’s energy efficiency, you show your employees, customers, and investors that you care about the future you’re all building.

Your commercial venture can always improve energy efficiency in building strategies for a brighter tomorrow. Start maximizing energy savings today – call 615-802-COOL (2665) to schedule a consultation with the Interstate AC team!

FAQs

Here’s what our commercial clients ask about maximizing a building’s efficiency.

Do HVAC Systems Create Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

Yes, HVAC systems create greenhouse gas emissions, especially older models powered by natural gas created from fossil fuels. Reduced energy consumption brings related energy costs in line, thanks to an HVAC upgrade.

How Much Money Do Commercial Buildings Save With HVAC Energy Performance Improvements?

The Department of Energy reports that energy-efficient commercial buildings can save up to 30% (because inefficient buildings waste up to 30% of their energy intake).

What Are Small Things My Business Can Do to Combat Climate Change?

Small things your business can do to combat climate change include:

  • Audit energy habits
  • Calculate your business’s carbon footprint
  • Reduce your building’s monthly energy consumption
  • Systematically install energy-efficient lighting

Also, consider utilizing renewable energy sources.

When You Improve Building Energy Efficiency, Are There Environmental Benefits?

Yes, when you improve energy efficiency in building-related processes, you facilitate energy and environmental design changes that benefit the world. For instance, curbing energy use translates to:

  • Less oil extraction
  • Eased electrical demands
  • The least possible carbon output for your facility

Commercial HVAC equipment that needs less energy also elevates these efforts – often considerably, if you consider the daily gains.

How To Choose the Right HVAC System for a Large Space

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Maintaining a commercial building is complex, and business owners often need professional advice on how to choose the right HVAC systems for a large space.

Although every project is different, maximizing comfort, energy efficiency, and reliability for your business means looking at multiple elements.

Size Matters

The unit size is the most important consideration when selecting a cooling and heating system for your commercial space, but bigger isn’t always better.

In addition to considering the square footage of the space when trying to choose the right HVAC system for a large space, evaluate the layout, insulation, ceiling height, sun exposure, and number of people working in the space all influence the ideal unit size.

To calculate the required cooling capacity in BTUs (British thermal units), divide the square footage by 400, then multiply by 12,000 to get the minimum cooling capacity; you’ll need to add additional capacity for factors like windows, high ceilings, and workers.

Additional Factors to Consider

Climate

Not all HVAC systems work the same in every environment. Extreme temperatures in either direction can affect system efficiency and capacity.

Indoor Air Quality Needs

HVAC directly influences indoor air quality, including humidity, ventilation, and air filtration, so you need to choose a system that creates a comfortable and healthy working environment.

Energy Efficiency

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) requirements apply to commercial systems. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the system and the less it will cost to run.

Regulations

In addition to SEER ratings, your HVAC system must comply with applicable government regulations.

Get Help With Commercial HVAC

When you need professional, experienced insights into how to choose the right HVAC system for a large space, get in touch with Interstate AC at (615) 802-COOL (2665).

We’re the most trusted commercial HVAC experts in Middle Tennessee and have the expertise to ensure your business stays comfortable year-round.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Happens If the HVAC System is Oversized?

An oversized HVAC system will use more energy, but won’t provide the most reliable or even cooling. Excess capacity will cause the unit to short-cycle and turn off before it fully warms or cools the space, resulting in uncomfortable temperatures and excess humidity.

How Long Does a Commercial HVAC System Last?

The average system lasts 12 to 15 years when you choose the right HVAC system for a large space and invest in regular maintenance.

What Are the Most Common Air Conditioning Systems Used in Large Buildings?

Central air conditioning is the most common system for large buildings. Very large industrial buildings typically use chillers, which distribute cooled water or liquids via a series of coils throughout the building.

Will Closing Vents in Unused Rooms Boost HVAC Efficiency?

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It’s common to have some rooms in your home that always get too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter.  In an effort to force more air into the needed room(s), you close some vents in the little-used rooms. This may seem like a good idea, but you may be doing more harm than good when you seal up or block vents.

When you close a vent register, the system keeps cooling and pumping without delivering the cool air to a usable space. You’re basically paying to keep the inside of your ductwork cold!  In fact, this may lead to increased energy consumption due to increased duct leakage of conditioned air, and increased suction of unconditioned air from around doors and windows.  If the return air grate for your home is located in or near the closed off room, then you’ve really created a problem!  This can cause the compressor and condenser to cycle too frequently, and puts strain on the whole system, leading to accelerated wear and ultimately, an early failure. Plus, with the added pressure against the closed vent, it is apt to start “whistling” or making a rattling noise.  Why risk this damage when it doesn’t work and won’t even save energy?

Options

If you only want to keep a single room cooler or warmer, consider adding a ductless mini-split system, or adding an additional register or enlarging the existing registers in that room. Checkout our posts about uneven heating and cooling and our 3-part video series on zoning for other possible solutions.  But the best thing would be to have a skilled HVAC technician evaluate your problem, so you’ll have confidence that the solution they propose will work… instead of spending money on things that may not.

If you live in the Nashville area and want to make sure your air-conditioning or heating system is running at peak efficiency, call on Interstate AC Service, at (615) 832-8500.  We’re here for YOU!

Is Your Thermostat the Cause of Your Heating Problem?

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It’s cold and your heat doesn’t seem to be working!  Did you know your thermostat could be the cause?  Here are some troubleshooting tips and fixes you may be able to do yourself, to save time and money.

  • Power:  Is the display on your thermostat blank? It could be there is no power to the thermostat.  A tripped circuit breaker or fuse could be the problem, possibly caused by a power outage, power surge, lightning strike, or storm. Reset the tripped circuit breaker or replace the fuse. Make sure all the wires going to the thermostat are connected and not loose.
  • Batteries: If your thermostat is battery-powered, or relies on battery for backup power in case of a power outage, it could be that the battery needs replacing.  If you have a programmable thermostat, and had a recent power outage, it could be that without a functioning battery backup, all of your settings have been wiped out by the power outage and the thermostat reverted to its default program. You’ll need to insert a new battery, then re-enter your settings.
  • Date/Time: Check that the thermostat is set to the correct day and time, including the AM or PM designation.  One customer bought a programmable thermostat to save money, with the intent to have the heat backed down while the customer was away at work, and have the heat cranked up at night when the customer was home.  But when the customer started freezing at night, they mistakenly thought something was wrong with their heat, when the real culprit was they had the AM/PM designation backwards on their thermostat!

Here’s a tip: If you’ve lost your owner’s manual for your thermostat, most major-brand manuals can be found on the web — just go to the manufacturer’s web site.

  • Mode: Check that the thermostat is in heat mode. This switch can easily get accidentally bumped into the off or cool position. If it’s a programmable thermostat, switch it to manual control and set it for 5 degrees above the room temperature, and wait to see if the heat cycles on.  If it does not, then the problem may be at the furnace.

If none of these DIY fixes addresses your problem, and you live in the Nashville area, give us a call at 615-802-2665. We’re here to help!

Single vs Variable-Speed Blowers: Does it Matter?

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Single-Speed Blowers

If your furnace or heat pump is more than 10 years old, it likely has a single-speed air handler (blower).  Single-speed blowers work like a light switch: they’re either on (blowing at maximum speed) or off (not blowing).  Single-speed units have been the standard, most affordable option, but they have some disadvantages.

Disadvantages of Single-Speed Blowers

  • It uses more electricity.
  • It causes large swings in temperature: from too cold to too hot. And because the air does not circulate at all when the blower switches off, the heated air rises to the ceiling.  This is why we recommend running ceiling fans on low, even in the winter.
  • When the blower comes on, you hear a loud rush of air and it can be noisy.  Plus, the surge of electricity it consumes may cause your lights to dim for a second each time it kicks on.
  • Because there are periods when the blower is not blowing at all, humidity control suffers.  In the summer, the air only moves through the de-humidifier when the blower is on (actively blowing), and humidity builds up when the blower cycles off.
  • The constant cycling on and off makes for more wear-and-tear on all the components, and could cause the system to breakdown sooner.

​Variable-Speed Blowers

Over the last 10 years, technology has continued to advance, making variable-speed motors less complex, more reliable, more responsive, and more commonplace on HVAC units.  A variable-speed blower runs at different speeds to precisely control the flow of heated or cooled air throughout your home.

On a mild day, the blower runs slower.  The AC or heat runs in longer cycles so the indoor temperature does not spike up and down, thus making overall efficiency higher.  Variable-speed blowers offer the highest efficiency and performance.  The AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) of a furnace with a variable-speed blower may be as high as 95%.

Advantages of Variable-Speed Blowers

  • Sensitivity: Since it operates at different speeds, it can adapt to the unique airflow requirements of a home at any given point in time.  For example, it can compensate for the amount of dirt in the air filter or blocked vents by increasing the fan speed.
  • Efficiency: It always operates at the lowest speed required, thus it saves electricity, and is less costly to operate. This increases efficiency and allows the unit to use about two-thirds less electricity. This results in a 40% year-round energy savings (about 75% of that savings is in heating).
  • Quieter: Whether running AC or heat, the unit is quieter because most of the time it is not operating at full speed. Plus, it gradually ramps up to full-speed when needed, eliminating the sudden noisy blast of air common with single-speed units.
  • Comfort:  A variable-speed unit will keep you more comfortable because it keeps the temperatures more constant – eliminating the wide swings of too cold and too hot which results from single-speed systems cycling on and off.
  • Air Circulation:  It circulates air continuously, with fewer “off” cycles, allowing more air mixing and preventing the trapping of hot air near the ceiling.  In the summer, it allows the air-conditioner to remove more moisture from the air, decreasing humidity to make you feel more comfortable.
  • Air Quality: Because your air filter is only filtering particles when the air is moving through it, having a variable-speed blower means more air will be filtered.  This means leaving fewer particles to be deposited in your living space, which may translate into fewer allergens and less dust.
  • Longer Life: Since a variable-speed blower is not having to constantly cycle on and off, there is less wear-and-tear and thus fewer breakdowns and a longer operating life for the system.
  • Payback: Although the tax credits have expired for buying a high-efficiency variable speed HVAC unit, it is still a wise purchase.  This is because the reduced costs (less electricity consumed, fewer breakdowns) during operation mean you’ll get a return on investment (ROI) in just 4-5 years.

Does it Really Matter?

Bob, a homeowner who recently had a variable-speed HVAC system installed, says “There is a big difference… it does a better job of keeping warm and even throughout the room.”  His old system was quite noisy, so that has been a big improvement, too.  One feature Bob likes about his furnace now is that “it waits until the furnace is warm before it starts to blow hard.”

What System is Right for You?

If you live in the Nashville TN area and need help deciding between the various types of systems on the market and determining which one is best for your needs, give us a call at (615) 832-8500.

What it Takes to Replace your Home HVAC

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This is a story of a homeowner whose heating and air conditioning reached the end of its life. For most systems, end-of-life can be anywhere from 12-16 years, but with some intermediate repairs, this system’s life was extended to 21 years.   In the fall of 2018, when the homeowners came home from a long trip, there was no air conditioning on the first floor of the house.  Interstate AC Service came out and added refrigerant to the system which appeared to solve the problem.  However, a week later, the refrigerant had leaked out and it became clear that something more would need to be done.  Interstate AC’s  system expert, Tommy Gentry,  discussed options with the homeowners.

The electric blower controls had been replaced two times in the last 10 years.  The existing HVAC unit was sitting on the basement floor, which made it subject to flooding.  So, the unit needed to be raised off the floor.  There were two rather small air ducts coming from the return and these needed to be enlarged.  Tommy took a lot of measurements and determined that a new 3-ton American Standard would fit the existing space and result in lower costs.  The existing heat pump was eliminated. Tommy drew up a reasonable estimate and the homeowner decided to proceed with the replacement.  Tommy provided drawings for the installers and made a list of parts that would be required. Three days later the truck arrived, and work with a two-man crew began.

  1. First, the gas was turned off, then the refrigerant was drained from the existing unit so it could be recycled.   Next, the exhaust was disconnected from the existing unit, and the old unit was removed and recycled.  Then, the area was made ready for the new furnace.
  2. A platform to go under the unit was put in place, then the blower, coils, and furnace were brought in and were put together.  Lines from the outside unit were brought inside and attached to the new unit.
  3. After a short break, Tommy brought in a load of parts, inspected the job, and helped to rebuild the new unit’s furnace exhaust.
  4. Next, they tackled the outdoor unit.  They cut the wiring and copper pipes to free the old unit so it could be removed and taken to the recycler.  The pad was prepared, and the new unit was unpacked and put into position.
  5. Wiring and copper pipes were now fitted to the new outdoor unit.  Air was evacuated from the pipes and the coils and the new unit was filled with the new, more eco-friendly, 410A refrigerant.
  6. The entire unit  – both heating and cooling – was tested.   Finally, the unit was buttoned up and connected to a new condensate pump.

The homeowner was impressed with the quality of the work and the care that Interstate AC Service took at each step of the way.  The new unit has a variable speed blower motor which makes a huge difference in reducing the noise coming from the unit.  We now have another very happy homeowner.

If you’re pondering a system replacement, let the folks at Interstate AC Service help!  If you live in the Nashville and surrounding area, give us a call at 615-802-2665.  We’re here for you!

Balancing Airflow for Uneven Temperatures – Alternatives to Zoning (Part 3)

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This is part 3 of our 3-part series on alternatives to zoning. Zoning refers to creating separate thermostatically-controlled areas within your home.  But, before doing an expensive retro fit or buying a new multi-zoned system, try some of these things to address and possibly alleviate uneven temperatures in your home.  In this episode, we’ll focus on how Balancing Airflow and employing Spot Treatments may help.

Balancing the Airflow

Some rooms may be hard to heat and cool because of inadequate supply ducts or air register grills.  You may need to increase the size of the supply duct or add an additional duct to provide the needed airflow to the room. Any rooms with a lack of sufficient return airflow may benefit from relatively simple upgrades, such as: installing new or larger return-air registers, undercutting doors for increasing return air flow, or installing a jumper duct to create an air flow connection between rooms.  To see which of these solutions is best for your problem, contact an HVAC professional.

Manual Balancing

You might be able to “manually” balance the air flow by adjusting the dampers in the duct work. For example, in the summer time, you might try partially closing the dampers in the ducts going to the first floor and fully opening the ones to the second floor. This often takes a few tries to get them set right. If you have separate HVAC units feeding each floor, try setting the thermostat for the upstairs about 2-3 degrees cooler than the downstairs in the summer.  This is because heat rises.  In the winter, set the downstairs thermostat 2-3 degrees warmer than the upstairs.

Spot Treatments

Consider installing a ductless mini-split system in the rooms which are always too hot in summer and too cold in winter.  As the name implies, they do not require ductwork, so they’re easy to install and they’re super-efficient.  This will effectively make the rooms that are fed by the mini-split system their own zones, allowing you to control their temperature independently of the rest of the house.  Check out our many previous posts on mini-split systems.

Let the folks at Interstate AC Service help you sort out all the options and find the best solution for addressing your uneven heating and cooling problems. If you live in the Nashville and surrounding area, give us a call at 615-802-2665.  We’re here for all your heating and cooling needs.

Reflecting & Radiating Heat – Alternatives to Zoning (Part 2)

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This is part 2 of our 3-part series on alternatives to Zoning. Zoning refers to creating separate thermostatically-controlled areas within your home to help even out the hot and cold spots.  But, before doing an expensive retro fit or buying a new multi-zoned system, try some of these things to address and possibly alleviate uneven temperatures in your home!  In this episode, we’ll focus on how Reflecting and Radiating Heat may help… and best thing is these are do-it-yourself-type projects!

Insulate the Attic

Beefing up the insulation in the attic – not just around the ducts but all around the floor of the attic – is the one thing you can do that will help the most with both heating and cooling. Plus, you’ll save money on your overall heating and cooling costs year-round.

Insulate Garage

Adding insulation to your garage, particularly to the garage doors, will prevent heat from outside radiating inside in summer, and will prevent heat loss in winter.  Not only will it make your garage a more comfortable space, but it will help your HVAC work a little less hard to keep the adjoining rooms at your desired temperature.

Reflecting Heat

Do you have windows in your garage door or attic?  What about in that one room that always seems to be too hot in the summer and too cool in the winter?  Try Iining the insides of the windows with a UV-reflective window film, which can block 99% of the sun’s UV rays while also reducing heat loss in winter by 30%.  Many types and colors are available, and some are transparent and easily removable.

Radiant Barriers

Consider adding a radiant barrier in the attic to reflect some heat away. A radiant barrier is a highly reflective material that reflects heat rather than absorbing it.  Attics with R-19 or better insulation and a radiant barrier – such as foil-laminated OSB panels or thin sheets of aluminum – may reduce an attic’s temperature by up to 30°F.

A cooler attic or garage means less heat moving into your living space!  This increases the efficiency of your ductwork, prolongs the life of your HVAC, and saves on your energy bills.

While we can’t help you with many of these DIY projects, we can help make sure your heating and cooling units are maintained in top shape for peak efficiency, and help you find the best solution for addressing your uneven heating and cooling problems. If you live in the Nashville or surrounding area, call on Interstate AC Service at 615-802-2665. We’re here for all your heating and cooling needs.