This Is What’s Causing Poor Air Flow Inside Your Home

Is there a room in your home that feels a little colder than the others? Or a room where you open windows because it’s always the hottest room in the home? 

That could be a sign of something wrong with the air flow with your HVAC equipment. 

HVAC is defined as the system used to control the temperature and air flow inside your home. The furnace pushes warm air in the winter. The air conditioner sends cooled air when the temperatures spike in the summer. It’s the ventilation system’s job to ensure the air flow is delivered efficiently to every room in your home. 

When that doesn’t happen, there are a few common causes that might be preventing air from flowing. 

Clogged air filters

One of the most common problems with an inefficient HVAC system is a clogged air filter. Filters are used to trap harmful particles like dust, pet dander, and other home pollutants, and prevent them from moving through your ducts to various places around your home. If an air filter is clogged, it can reduce the airflow and the efficiency of the entire HVAC system. Most HVAC manufacturers recommend to change out an air filter seasonally to ensure your equipment always operates as efficiently as possible. 

Improperly installed ventilation

Have you noticed hot and cold spots from the moment you moved into your home? Does nothing seem to help? You might have an HVAC system that wasn’t designed well. Sometimes there aren’t enough air vents throughout the home. Maybe they weren’t properly sized, which can lead to problems with air pressure as it travels through your home. The best way to determine where the problem areas are is to schedule a home energy audit for a complete analysis. 

Damaged ducts

Most of us realize that furnaces and air conditioners have a limited lifespan. Furnaces will last 15 to 20 years, while air conditioners can last 10 to 15 years. But have you ever stopped to think how old your ductwork is? Like other HVAC equipment, ducts have a limited lifespan. Depending on the material used, ducts can last anywhere from 10 to 25 years. Holes, cracks, leaks, and other damage can allow air to leak in places outside of your living space, and cause a less than efficient way of conditioning your home. 

Improper sizing

Bigger isn’t always better. Furnaces and air conditioners come in various sizes to handle the needs of different home spaces. HVAC technicians take into account home size, insulation, number of windows and doors, layout of the home living space, and more to calculate the correct dimensions for your heating and cooling system. Installing the wrong sizes will make the equipment less than efficient, and create problems with the way the air flows throughout your home. 

If you notice a problem you believe may be from poor air flow, give us a call today. We can evaluate your system and show you where the best changes could make the biggest impact on the way your heating and cooling system works.