Keeping pleasant temperatures at home is a big priority for most people. This can mean more than just choosing the ideal temperature on your thermostat—proper airflow is also important to ensure your home feels just right. If you’re dealing with constant hot and cold spots or your HVAC system seems to be inefficient, making efforts to enhance airflow could be the relief you're hoping to find. Learn how adequate airflow can help your home, the usual reasons airflow may become restricted and a few easy tips to correct it.

Why You Need Consistent Airflow

In terms of your HVAC, airflow means the movement of air within the air ducts. When the HVAC system begins to run, air is brought in through the return registers and ductwork. It passes through the air filter, which traps dust and other debris before the air is heated or air-conditioned by the corresponding system. The now-purified and conditioned air then flows back through your home via the supply ducts and registers. Proper airflow is when this loop happens evenly across all rooms.

Here’s why adequate airflow is a crucial part of efficient performance:

Temperatures stay in balance: Balanced airflow helps promote the same temperature from one room to the next. This minimizes hot and cold spots that can make some rooms much less pleasant.
Improved energy efficiency: When the air isn't restricted, your HVAC system doesn't have to work as much, which helps with shrinking your energy bills yet lengthening the system’s life span.
Cleaner indoor air: Proper airflow prevents air stagnation, reducing the concentration of airborne allergens for a cleaner living environment.

The Usual Suspects that Limit Airflow

Before you take steps for improving home airflow, it’s important to know the usual problems that can restrict it. Here are many of the most common factors that might be impacting your home’s comfort, efficiency and air quality:

Closed vents and registers: Furniture, curtains and rugs may get in the way of return and supply vents, reducing the amount of air that circulates through the system.
An old air filter: A full filter makes it more difficult for your HVAC system to distribute air through, forcing it to work harder than necessary.
Air duct leaks: Gaps or loose connections in your ductwork allow air to escape before it gets to its intended destination, resulting in inconsistent temperatures and wasted energy.
Poor system maintenance: A lack of scheduled maintenance can cause dust and debris to build up in your HVAC system and ductwork, which restricts the flow of air over time.
An inefficient air duct layout: Incorrectly sized ducts, lack of insulation and inefficient vent placement is also known to hinder airflow.

Suggestions to Optimize Airflow

Now that you are more aware of why efficient airflow is so important and the concerns that can restrict it, let’s look at some simple tips to improve home airflow:

Check that vents and registers are clear: Regularly verify that vents and registers are unblocked by furniture and other large objects. All return vents and at least 80% of supply vents need to be kept open to support proper airflow. Additionally, clean the grilles when needed to remove dust and debris that can restrict circulation.
Replace the HVAC air filter: Make a habit of inspecting your air filter around once a month. A general rule of thumb is to replace it after three months or in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines to keep the air flowing freely through your system.
Seal duct leaks: Examine any exposed ductwork for obvious damage that is allowing air to escape. For a more detailed inspection, look into hiring a professional to examine your air ducts.
Make the most of ceiling and floor fans: Ceiling fans help circulate air which also makes the temperature feel more comfortable, particularly in the summer. Set your fans to move counterclockwise, which drives cool air down. In the winter, change them to clockwise and keep them on low to move warm air up near the ceiling back down to the floor.
Leave interior doors unblocked: Leaving open interior doors allows air to circulate freely between rooms, important for maintaining an even temperature throughout your home.
Think about installing a zoning system: Home zoning allows you to independently regulate the temperature in different rooms, a convenient solution to poorly distributed heating and cooling.
Plan for preventive HVAC maintenance: Professional maintenance keeps your HVAC system operating at its best. A technician will clean components, look for potential problems and perform needed repairs to protect proper airflow.

Count on Service Experts to Optimize Home Comfort

Optimizing your home’s airflow can drastically improve your comfort level and energy bills. The seasoned technicians at Service Experts provide fast, reliable solutions to all your comfort needs. If you’re not completely happy with our work, our famous Service Experts Guarantee will make things right. We’re proud to ensure comfort to every home we service! If you’re ready to improve airflow, please contact us for more information.