What is Static Pressure in HVAC Systems?
Static pressure is the maximum amount of air that can be moved through a piece of equipment with a specific speed and flow, like an air conditioner. One general rule is that static pressures are based on the sizing orifice from which you draw air. In Toronto & GTA, HVAC companies may require a maximum static pressure of 12 (atm), while some lower-end systems in the country may only have an orifice of 10. However, some systems have no orifice! The quality of these filters is often deficient and will let through extra air into your home.
What Happens If Your System Has Static Pressure Problems?
Excessive Static Pressure:
High static pressure can decrease the airflow in your system. In addition, the resistance increases, which can cause foul odors to linger, mold and mildew in your ductwork or fan coil units or dirty coils, or cause damage to the refrigerant lines. More importantly, if you don’t take care of this problem, it will cost you more money in the long run.
Low Static Pressure:
Suppose your system has low static pressure, then there is a greater chance for moisture on condensation problems, which could result in safety hazards and increased energy costs due to inefficient equipment operation. If a system has too low of static pressure, airflow will not be able to move through the design into your conditioned space, and a backdraft can occur, which can cause damage. It can result in high energy bills, inefficient operation of equipment, and safety hazards.
What Is a Good Static Pressure in HVAC?
Usually, a recommended minimum static pressure for residential equipment is 6 inches of water column (IWC), which translates to a measured pressure of 0.09 inches of water gage.
High static pressure in your system is probably caused by an ill-fitted filter, a dirty coil, or other parts inside your unit like the blower wheel. Aire One Heating & Cooling, servicing the Ontario region would recommend cleaning your ring and replacing the filter. If you have low static pressure, it is probably caused by a problem with your ductwork or vents.
Static pressure problems in your heating and cooling can be easily solved if you take the time to investigate and fix them once it has been found. And remember, for a simple check of static pressure – You only need to know the basics. The best way to determine current static is to use a combination of two methods. First, you must measure the tubing pressure before loading the unit with any dirty laundry. Then calculate the difference between that and what was measured after loading the team with dirty laundry. You can also contact experts from Aire One Heating and Cooling in Toronto for assistance. Our licensed technicians will help you check your HVAC system and find the problem. Contact us today.