What should happen during a balancing check of a newly installed duct?

During a balancing check of a newly installed duct system, the goal is to ensure that airflow is evenly distributed throughout the space. Opening dampers completely in all rooms allows for maximum airflow during the initial testing phase. This enables technicians to measure and evaluate the airflow in each room without restrictions, ensuring that the system is delivering the designed capacity.

By having all dampers fully open, it becomes easier to identify any significant discrepancies in airflow or pressure that may need adjustment later. After baseline measurements are taken with the dampers fully open, further adjustments can be made based on the needs of each room, ensuring that each area receives the appropriate amount of heating or cooling.

Adjusting dampers based on room size can certainly be part of the fine-tuning process after the initial check, but for the purpose of the balancing check itself, starting with them wide open provides the clearest understanding of the system’s performance.