Is your home cold, no matter how high you set the thermostat? Low airflow from your furnace may be to blame.
Proper airflow throughout your home ensures you are comfortable in every room. If you suspect your furnace has an airflow issue, it is likely due to one of these four most common causes:
Too Few Air Return Vents
Most HVAC systems are a closed loop, meaning that air blown into the home should be equal to the air distributed and circled back through return vents.
However, if certain rooms or areas of your home have too few air return vents, airflow is limited, causing the room to pressurize and resulting in hot and cold spots. This is often the case for rooms closer to your furnace, as they will be significantly warmer than rooms that are farther away.
Your HVAC technician can install additional return vents for maximum heat and temperature balance.
Dirty Air Filters
Ensuring that the air in your home is clean and safe is of the utmost importance, so you want to ensure that your filters are working properly. Your system’s filters work to catch many pollutants, including:
- Pollen
- Dust and dust mites
- Pet dander
- Mold spores
- Fibers from carpets and textiles
If your filters are too dirty, these pollutants will block airflow and result in temperature balance issues. Change your filters every three months to ensure they don’t get clogged.
The Wrong Filters for Your System
The other issue may be that your filters are too efficient for your system. All air filters are rated on the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) scale from 1 to 16. The higher the rating, the more effective the filter.
Most systems are equipped to handle filters with a rating from 7 to 12. If your filters have a higher rating than the maximum rating for your system motor, they will collect pollutants more quickly, and airflow will be restricted.
We recommend changing these filters more often to ensure that airflow is not blocked or switching to a filter rated for your system. With clean filters and routine furnace maintenance, your system should provide excellent airflow for the entire season.
Leaking Air Ducts
One of the most common reasons for low airflow is leaks in your air ducts. Not only does this allow heat to escape before it reaches the rooms in your home, but it also results in wasted energy and higher utility bills. This is especially true for homes with air ducts in crawl spaces or attics.
Any damage or leak in the ductwork reduces your system’s efficiency and the overall comfort of your home. Therefore, routine maintenance is key.
A professional can find and seal leaky ductwork before it becomes a bigger issue, ensuring that you aren’t wasting money on high energy bills.
AIS Heating & Air Conditioning Can Resolve Your Airflow Issues
If you are experiencing airflow issues, AIS Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Serving Fremont, Livermore, and the Bay Area, our friendly and professional certified technicians provide upfront pricing for all of your HVAC service needs for heating, heat pumps, air conditioners, and more.
Call us at (510) 792-4328 or contact us online to schedule your HVAC service with our knowledgeable and reliable technicians!
