Hot Spots
Do you have places in your home that seem to be unusually warm or cool? A small amount of fluctuation is reasonable. However, when a homeowner has hot spots, it means something isn't up to standard.
A fan can help regulate temperature nicely.
Today we're going to talk about hot spots in a home, the causes, and how to obtain relief from them. Believe it or not, rolling back the temperature for the whole house isn't the solution!
HVAC is substandard
If the HVAC is too small or too old, it won't cool the home efficiently. If you've lived in the house for a long time, and notice that over the years, your HVAC has become less efficient in spite of regular service, it may be time to think about a replacement. But, if you move into a home and notice you see to have high electric bills, especially in summer, go out and take a moment to assess your HVAC condenser. It's the big metal box outside your home with the fan in it.
If weeds or foliage surround the condenser, those need to be cut back, because they could be interfering with its operation. If it's making so much noise you can't hear the sound of your voice; if it's making unusual sounds or looks rusty, those are some signs it might be too old to function correctly. If you can find the metal plate with the manufacturing information on it, take a photo of it before you go back inside. Once you have that, you can use the make and model number to find the manufacturing date if it isn't printed on the plate. If it's written on the plate and it's more than ten years old, that's another alert.
If it's newer than ten years old, it may just be too small for the amount of space which requires cooling.
Poor installation
The dog always knows the cool spots!
If your home is poorly insulated, hot spots can be the result. Take a look at the insulation in your attic. If it's less than 14 inches, you may have found the culprit. If the hot spots are apparently in line with windows, make sure to use insulating curtains, blinds, or shutters.
Leaks in ductwork
One thinks ductwork is stable and won't move, but a lot happens in a typical airflow situation, whether it's due to the force of the flow, something hitting the duct (like that box with your Christmas tree you store in the attic!) or even rodents.
Checking ductwork is easy when the fan is on. Follow the ductwork and check for any air blowing out of cracks, especially at corners and junctions. Use metal duct tape or duct mastic to repair it: do not use the duct tape you use when you tape up moving boxes!
If you have hot spots and aren't able to run down and repair the culprit, give us a call and we'll come to your home and do some diagnostics.
CMB Air is residential heating and cooling installation, service, and repair and company with 15+ years of experience serving Tampa and surrounding areas. If you need a new air conditioner, repair, maintenance or some other service, we can help! Call 813-447-1443 today!
