When and why is it worth testing your HVAC equipment?

Though testing may seem like just another cost, consider some common scenarios: Your system works but you still feel uncomfortable, notice strange indoor air quality issues that you can’t put your finger on, or maybe you’re looking to buy a house and need a thorough mechanical inspection. With growing numbers of people dealing with chemical sensitivities, it’s all the more appealing to think about testing.

Testing your ductwork can reveal whether the existing or new ducts are sealed properly. Leaking ductwork can cause pressure imbalances that pull humidity and pollutants into your breathing space. Although duct leakage testing may not always be enforced, wouldn’t you like to know your equipment is performing as designed?

Unfortunately for that matter, many homes are lacking in thoughtful HVAC design and are built without ever producing a detailed load calculation, performing a test and air balance, or even a proper commissioning. On top of that, energy improvements like insulation, air sealing, and encapsulations are sometimes performed before the original HVAC equipment gets replaced. In that case, a load calculation and maybe even a blower door test can give you an accurate picture of what your home needs in its current state.

So maybe you’ve installed that 16 SEER, 18 SEER, or 20 SEER heat pump. Are you sure it’s performing to the standard you’ve paid for? On existing systems, a thorough preventive maintenance should always include performance tests and a combustion analysis on fuel burning appliances. With the technology available now, there’s no excuse not to test and provide proofs for what we do. Yes, testing comes at a cost, but not knowing will likely cost more.