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How You Can Optimize Airflow and Increase Home Comfort

Keeping a comfortable home is a huge priority for most people. This requires more than just setting up the perfect temperature on your thermostat—efficient airflow is also important to ensure your home feels just right. If you’re experiencing persistent hot and cold spots or your HVAC system appears to be not functioning properly, optimizing airflow could be the solution you’re looking for. Find out how proper airflow can enhance the comfort of your home, the usual reasons airflow may become restricted and a few easy tips to optimize it.

Five Things That Could Obstruct Airflow

In terms of your HVAC, airflow refers to the movement of air within the ductwork. When the HVAC system starts up, air is drawn in through the air returns and air ducts. It passes through the filter, which captures dust and other airborne particles before the air is heated or cooled by the corresponding unit. The now-treated and temperature-appropriate air then circulates back through your home via the supply vents and vents. Balanced airflow is when this process occurs smoothly across all rooms.

But before you take steps for improving home airflow, it’s a good idea to learn about the typical factors that can restrict it. Here are several factors that might be affecting your home’s comfort, efficiency and air quality:

1. Dirty Air Filter

A clogged filter makes it tougher for the HVAC system to push air through, causing it to work longer than necessary.

2. Leaking Ductwork

Gaps or loose bolts in your ductwork allow air to escape before it reaches its intended destination, resulting in uneven temperatures and wasted energy.

3. Covered Vents and Registers

Furniture, curtains and rugs may block return and supply vents, limiting the amount of air that can pass through the system.

4. Bad Ductwork Design

Small ductwork, lack of insulation and sloppy vent placement is also known to hinder airflow.

5. Poor System Maintenance

A lack of scheduled maintenance can cause dirt and debris to build up in your HVAC system and ductwork, which restricts circulation over time.

Why You Need Proper Airflow

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

Healthier air: Adequate airflow prevents stagnation, reducing the concentration of airborne pollutants for a healthier living environment.

Improved energy efficiency: When the air can move freely, your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard, which helps with shrinking your energy bills and prolonging the system’s life span.

Temperature consistency: And of course, proper airflow helps promote an even temperature from one room to the next. This helps prevent hot and cold spots that often make some rooms much less pleasant.

Ways to Enhance Airflow

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

  • Swap out the HVAC air filter: Make a habit of inspecting your air filter around once a month. A good rule of thumb is to replace it after three months or according to the manufacturer’s guidelines to keep the air moving freely through your system.
  • Leave interior doors ajar: Opening interior doors allows air to circulate freely between rooms, important for maintaining a balanced temperature throughout your home.
  • Use your ceiling fans: Ceiling fans help distribute air which also makes the temperature feel more comfortable, particularly during the summer. Set your fans to spin counterclockwise, which drives cool air toward the floor. But in winter, switch them to clockwise and use them on low to push warm air up near the ceiling back down to the floor.
  • Make sure vents and registers are free: It never hurts to regularly double check that vents and registers are clear of furniture and other large objects. All return vents and at least 80% of supply vents should remain open to promote balanced airflow. Also, wipe down the grilles as needed to clear away dust and debris that can restrict circulation.
  • Seal up any ductwork leaks: Inspect any accessible ductwork for visible damage allowing air to seep out. For a more detailed inspection, consider hiring a professional to examine your air ducts.
  • Consider a zoning system: Home zoning lets you independently adjust the temperature in individual rooms, a simple solution to unbalanced heating and cooling.
  • Arrange regular HVAC maintenance: Professional maintenance keeps your HVAC system functioning at its best. A technician will clean components, identify any problems and handle the required repairs to preserve airflow.

Trust Mark Allen to Optimize Home Comfort

Boosting your home’s airflow can significantly impact your comfort level and energy bills. The seasoned technicians at Mark Allen provide fast, long-lasting solutions to all your comfort needs. If you’re not completely happy with our work, our famous 100% satisfaction guarantee means we’re committed to making things right. We’re proud to ensure comfort to every home we service! If you’re ready to boost airflow, please contact us for more information.