Upgrade Home Comfort: Easy Ways to Enhance Airflow

Maintaining pleasant temperatures at home is a top priority for most people. This can involve more than just setting the perfect temperature on the thermostat—proper airflow is just as essential to ensure your home feels perfect. If you’re experiencing persistent hot and cold spots or your HVAC system seems like it is working harder than normal, taking steps to improve airflow could be the solution you’re hoping to find. Learn how efficient airflow can enhance the comfort of your home, the usual reasons airflow may become worse and a few easy tips to restore it.

Why You Need Proper Airflow

In terms of your HVAC, airflow means the flow of air within your home. When the HVAC system starts up, air is brought in through the return vents and ducts. It passes through the filter, which captures dust and other pollutants before the air is heated or air-conditioned by the corresponding unit. The now-purified and heated/cooled air then gradually makes its way back through your home via the outflow ducts and grilles. Balanced airflow is when this process happens consistently across all rooms.

Here’s why good airflow makes such a clear difference:

• Temperatures stay in balance: Balanced airflow helps maintain an even temperature from one room to the next. This minimizes hot and cold spots that can make some rooms much less pleasant.
• Higher energy savings: As long as the air circulates well, the HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard, which helps with lowering your energy bills yet extending the system’s life span.
• Better air quality: Proper airflow prevents stagnation, reducing the concentration of airborne allergens for a cleaner living environment.

Common Problems that Restrict Airflow

Before you take steps for enhancing home airflow, it’s important to learn about the usual problems that can limit it. Here are a few causes that might be affecting your home’s comfort, energy use and air quality:

• Blocked vents and registers: Furniture, curtains and rugs can block return and supply vents, reducing the amount of air that can pass through the system.
• An old air filter: A clogged filter makes it tougher for the HVAC system to push air through, forcing it to work more than it should.
• Air duct leaks: Holes or loose connections in your ductwork allow air to seep out before it makes it to its intended destination, causing inconsistent temperatures and wasted energy.
• Neglecting routine maintenance like tune-ups: A lack of consistent maintenance can cause dirt and debris to accumulate in your HVAC system and ductwork, which blocks airflow over time.
• An inefficient air duct layout: Undersized ducts, lack of insulation and improper vent placement is also known to reduce airflow.

Advice to Improve Airflow

Now that you recognize why good airflow is so important and the concerns that can hinder it, let’s look at some practical tips to improve home airflow:

• Ensure vents and registers are clear: Regularly make sure that vents and registers are unobstructed by furniture and other large objects. All return vents and at least 80% of supply vents need to be kept open to maintain proper airflow. Also, vacuum the grilles as needed to clear away dust and debris that can limit circulation.
• Replace the HVAC air filter: Make a habit of inspecting your air filter every month. A general rule of thumb is to replace it every 90 days or according to the manufacturer’s directions to keep the air circulating freely through your system.
• Seal up any ductwork leaks: Examine any accessible ductwork for visible damage allowing air to escape. For a more thorough inspection, look into hiring a professional to examine your air ducts.
• Increase circulation with ceiling fans: Ceiling fans help circulate air which also makes the temperature seem more comfortable, especially in the summer. Set your fans to rotate counterclockwise, which moves cool air toward the floor. In the winter, flip them to clockwise and use them on low to redistribute warm air collected near the ceiling back down toward the floor.
• Leave interior doors slightly open: Opening interior doors allows air to move freely between rooms, important for maintaining a balanced temperature for the entire home.
• Consider a zoning system: Home zoning allows you to independently set the temperature in individual rooms, an effective solution to inconsistent heating and cooling.
• Arrange regular HVAC maintenance: Professional maintenance keeps your HVAC system working at its best. Technicians clean components, identify any problems and complete the necessary repairs to protect proper airflow.

Choose Rob's Albertan Service Experts to Enhance Home Comfort

Improving your home’s airflow can greatly affect your comfort level and energy bills. The professional technicians at Rob's Albertan Service Experts provide fast, dependable solutions to all your comfort needs. If you’re not completely happy with our work, rest assured that our 100% satisfaction guarantee will make things right. We’re happy to ensure comfort to every home we service! If you’re ready to improve airflow, please contact us for more information.