Hot and cold spots in a commercial building are almost always an airflow distribution issue rather than a thermostat issue. Adjusting setpoints on individual rooms typically just moves the problem. The fix runs through air balancing.
Why hot and cold spots happen in commercial buildings
First, hot and cold spots almost always trace back to airflow imbalance — a starved zone next to an over-flowed zone. Specifically, dampers misadjusted at closeout, drifted balancing valves on hydronic loops, and VAV boxes locked at fixed minimums are the three most common causes we find. Therefore, equipment replacement rarely solves the complaint.
How we fix hot and cold spots through air balancing
Then we run a documented air balance under ASHRAE 111. After that, every diffuser is measured, every damper adjusted, every VAV setpoint reviewed against the BAS. Furthermore, the report ties each remaining hot and cold spots zone back to a specific device so operations can follow up.
Related reading
Want the full picture? See our pillar page on commercial air balancing.
From our blog
- 7 signs your building needs air balancing
- Air balancing & indoor air quality
- How air balancing lowers energy bills
