What does excess cooling airflow on an HVAC system cause?

Author: Teresa Goldner  |  Last update: Saturday, August 9, 2025

Too much air across the evaporator coil will cause low sub-cooling in the HVAC system. The resulting high compressor discharge temps and will increase refrigerant temps, putting more pressure on the condenser to cool the refrigerant, resulting in lower sub-cooled refrigerant.

Is too much airflow bad for AC?

In addition to the temperature effects, it will also increase static pressure on the system which increases wear and tear on the blower motor as well as the electric power drawn by the blower which can reduce efficiency of the system.

What happens if CFM is too high?

On the other hand, if your CFM is too high for your room size, it can cause ventilation problems. Too much air results in too little ventilation, which in turn causes high humidity. The excess moisture in the air can then lead to mold and mildew, as well as other problems.

What may an oversized air conditioning system cause?

Like we mentioned in the first problem, an oversized AC will often cool your home really fast then shut off. Not only does that wear out your AC components, but it can raise your energy bills too. You see, your AC has several motors that run different components (like the compressor and blower).

What are the symptoms of low airflow in HVAC?

Signs you may be having a problem include:
  • Excessive dust accumulation.
  • Bad smells in the air.
  • High humidity.
  • Uneven temperatures throughout the house.

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What is the most common cause of poor air flow in a duct system?

Obstructed Vent

One of the most common causes for poor airflow is a blocked vent. To properly heat or cool your home, the air needs to be unobstructed. To see if there are any blocked vents, look by the baseboards or on the ceiling. Furniture, bedding, and the vent damper could all be possible obstacles to the vent.

Will low airflow cause high subcooling?

Reduced airflow can lead to reduced heat exchange in the evaporator coil, causing low superheat. It may also cause the evaporator to freeze due to insufficient warm air passing over the coil. Additionally, the limited airflow can impact the condenser, raising subcooling levels.

What happens if a cooling system is significantly oversized?

An oversized HVAC system cycles on and off more frequently than necessary. This short-cycling leads to increased wear and tear on components, reducing the overall lifespan of the system. It can also result in uneven heating or cooling, creating uncomfortable hot or cold spots in different areas of your home.

What happens if your HVAC system is too big?

Too Hot or Too Cold Air

An oversized HVAC unit can make your home's inside temperature uncomfortable. An HVAC system with excess capacity can heat or cool your home faster, but that speed often results in a couple of other issues. First, your home won't benefit from gradual, even heating and cooling.

Is it better to oversize or undersize an AC unit?

Neither oversizing nor undersizing your AC unit is ideal. Both scenarios can lead to issues with efficiency, comfort, and longevity of the system.

Is it better to have more CFM or less?

If you cook every day or frequently cook for larger groups of people, it's best to choose more CFM.

Is too many CFM bad?

Not only will this exhaust fan be drawing more energy than necessary, but the extra CFM might cause other issues like drafts or the inability to dry up the moisture still hanging around in the bathroom. And we all know what extended exposure to moisture can do to a bathroom!

Is 350 CFM good for a blower?

What is a good CFM for a leaf blower? A good CFM for most yards ranges between 400-700, depending on the size of the area you need to clear. However, 150-400 CFM should do the trick for smaller yards.

What will excess cooling airflow on an HVAC system cause?

Too much air across the evaporator coil will cause low sub-cooling in the HVAC system. The resulting high compressor discharge temps and will increase refrigerant temps, putting more pressure on the condenser to cool the refrigerant, resulting in lower sub-cooled refrigerant.

How many cfm is a 3 ton AC unit?

A typical central AC unit or heat pump can produce an average of 400 CFM per ton of air conditioning capacity. So, as an example, a 1,200 CFM requirement would mean you need a 3-ton HVAC system.

How do I know if my AC is running too much?

7 Signs You're Overworking Your Air Conditioner
  • Shocking Increases in Your Energy Bills. ...
  • Your Air Conditioner Struggles to Cool Your Home. ...
  • Your Home is Uncomfortably Humid. ...
  • You Are Wearing Out Your Thermostat Buttons. ...
  • Your House has Warm and Cool Spots. ...
  • You Hear Strange Noises. ...
  • Your HVAC System Leaks.

What happens if you have too much BTU?

An air conditioner with BTUs that exceed the recommended square footage in your home may also take on more wear and tear over time because it will initiate its on/off cycle more frequently. It could also create a subpar cooling experience because your AC's compressor may turn off much sooner than it should.

What is the most expensive part in an HVAC unit?

Usually, it is a quick fix, but sometimes the failure can be caused by a much bigger problem. The most expensive part of an AC unit to replace and repair is the air compressor.

How to tell if AC is too big?

Here are some easy-to-identify signs that your AC may be too big for your home:
  1. Short AC Cycles. ...
  2. Your Home is Humid. ...
  3. High Energy Bills. ...
  4. Different Temperatures in Different Rooms Around the House. ...
  5. Poor Air Quality. ...
  6. AC is Too Loud.

What happens if you oversize your AC unit?

Short cycling.

An oversized conditioner will be overly efficient in that it will reach the desired room temperatures too fast, which results in shortened cooling cycles.

What happens if you overfill your cooling system?

An excess of coolant has the potential to cause electrical damage in your vehicle. In some cases, the excess coolant can be accommodated by your engine and exits the engine through the overflow hose. However, it is always a good idea to make sure that your coolant isn't above the maximum fill line.

Will a bigger AC make my house colder?

If your air conditioning system is too big, it cannot completely cool your home. This means that you'll have hot or cold spots throughout your home. An AC system that is too large doesn't run long, so the cool air can't be equally distributed through your home. This causes some areas to be cool while others are warm.

What is the normal subcooling for 410a refrigerant?

For a 410a refrigerant, the recommended superheat value is typically between 10°F and 12°F, while the ideal subcooling value ranges from 8°F to 12°F. However, these values can vary depending on the specific HVAC system and its requirements.

What happens when you increase the airflow across a coil?

Answer and Explanation: When you increase air flow to evaporator coil, the rate at which it will absorb heat will increase. Due to high flow rate, the heat transfer efficiency at the coils will deteriorate. Cooling demand will also increase as well.

Do you add or remove refrigerant to increase subcooling?

The temperature that you read with the thermometer should be lower than the saturated condensing temperature. The difference between the measured liquid line temperature and the saturated condensing temperature is the liquid subcooling. Add refrigerant to increase subcooling. Recover refrigerant to reduce subcooling.

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