- November 24, 2020
The smooth flow of air through the HVAC vents is essential for a comfortable indoor temperature and suitable indoor air quality. It ensures that the vents are able to deliver cooled air in the summers and hot air in the winters. If the airflow is obstructed and becomes lower than normal, you may experience poor heating and cooling year-round. This is why it is important to ensure proper air flow through HVAC vents.
If you are experiencing poor airflow through your HVAC vents, this may be for a variety of reasons. You will need to troubleshoot and resolve the problem in order to restore the airflow. Below are some tips you can use to diagnose and resolve the problem. However, if you are unable to identify and locate the cause of low airflow using these guidelines, it is best to consult a professional.
Factors That Can Affect Airflow
Air Filter Problems
The air filter of your HVAC system is one of its most important components. This is where undesirable airborne particles such as dust and pollen are trapped and prevented from entering the indoor environment. In this way, the filter helps keep the indoor air clean while also saving other HVAC components from becoming clogged with these particles.
The air filter does a fairly heavy-duty job. However, if it no longer allows the passage of air properly, this can directly affect air flow through the vents. The air filter may obstruct airflow if it is clogged, dirty, or too narrow to allow a desired volume of air to pass. A dirty and clogged air filter can also impact the energy efficiency of your HVAC system. Replacing such a filter can bring down the energy consumption of your AC by 5% to 15%.
In most cases, replacing an air filter is a quick and easy way of resolving any air filter issues. In the case of some types of filters, though, you may be able to resolve the problem by removing and washing the filter before reinserting it.
Lack of Enough Return Vents
The air from your HVAC system is delivered at different indoor spaces of your home via the return vents. The right number of vents is important to ensure suitable airflow. If you have too few vents at your home, this will prevent the right volume of air from exiting the HVAC ducts. As a result, the ducts may develop airflow issues. In summers, this can further complicate problems by promoting the growth of mold in the ductwork.
If this turns out to be the problem that is causing your airflow issues, you can easily have an HVAC expert add more vents to your HVAC system.
Ductwork Leaks
The ducts are used to transport the cool or hot air from the HVAC system to the return vents. This is why it is important that the ducts are sealed to prevent the hot or cold air from escaping. If the ducts have cracks or holes, which can develop over time, the air will escape. This results in low airflow at the return vents and poor cooling or heating overall.
If ductwork has leaks, you can easily diagnose it by feeling along with the profile of the ducts. In the case of leaks, it may be possible to plug them. However, if the leaks or holes are extensive, which is usually the case with fairly old ducts, you may need to have them replaced altogether.
Sizing Issues
The right size of the ducts is essential to ensure good airflow. If the ducts are too large, the airflow will be low as the air will spread to fill the volume of the ducts. At the same time, ducts that are too small will obstruct the airflow and again result in reduced airflow at the return vents. In both cases, you will experience poor heating or cooling.
Ductwork sizing issues are best determined by a seasoned HVAC expert. If the HVAC professional determines that your duct’s size is to blame for poor airflow, you may need to have the ductwork replaced with the recommended duct size.
Improving HVAC Airflow
If you face problems with your ductwork or any other component of your HVAC system, it is important to consult a technician. Here at General Air, we offer world-class HVAC installation, repair, and maintenance services to both homeowners and businesses across Greenville, SC. If you think that your AC has airflow issues or any other problems, we have got you covered. Simply call us and our experts will be at your doorstep in no time to take care of the problem
