Are you trying to improve the airflow in your house? Maybe you tried to improve the airflow in your home without much success, and you think you have to change your HVAC system. But most of the time, you can take simple steps to improve the situation without spending a lot of money.
A better airflow is always good for bringing down the summertime temperature and getting rid of still, bad air filled with dust. Such bad air can help mold grow and create unwanted allergy reactions and unnecessary respiratory problems.
Here are simple things to get better airflow in your house.
Open doors and windows
The easiest thing you can do is open doors and windows to create airflow so that lousy air will flow out and new fresh air will come in. But unfortunately, although it seems an obvious thing to do, not many people will take the time every day to do it.
People opt not to open windows or doors in certain areas not to let mosquitos, flies, and bugs come into the house. To resolve the problem, it is necessary to get window screens to keep them out of the house while getting air circulation going.
If there isn’t a lot of wind, you can get the fan to help the airflow.
Get fans installed in the house.
Fans can significantly help to get air circulating. There are different types of fans available such as ceiling fans, exhaust fans, floor fans, and smaller ones you can place in other rooms. Fans can also help you get rid of foul odors.
If you have a few fans strategically placed around the house, you can be sure that air will flow. Remember that exhaust fans suck air backward, so you can use them to get rid of hot and smelly air, such as in the kitchen.
A combination of fans and open windows can get air circulating correctly through the house. Ceiling fans can effectively improve airflow and create a cooling effect simultaneously. This can be helpful in summer. In winter, you would use them to circulate air.
Open vents and registers
Sometimes registers and vents are not correctly set up or are closed for some reason. You should check the vents and registers in each room and make sure they are opened to improve airflow. It should be done even if you do not want to cool a space.
When registers are closed, the HVAC systems work harder than necessary to move air from one point to another, which will worsen airflow in the house. If you have a prominent place with several rooms that do not need as much cooling as the rest of the house, you should consider zoned air conditioners.
Zoned air conditions allow you to connect a different zone of your house or room with independent air conditioning units. As a result, you can change the temperature in one room without effective the temperature in the rest of the house.
Routine cleaning
Cleaning is a simple action to improve airflow. However, vents can get clogged with dust, dirt, and debris, which will decrease airflow into the room. The same is valid for air filters. This is why they need to be replaced regularly.
There are so many advantages to keeping the air filters always cleaned. It is recommended to change them every 30 days when using lower-quality filters. However, high-quality filters can last up to 6 months without problems.
Sometimes you can figure out that you have to change filters by your house’s lower air quality and freshness. However, depending on specific situations present in the family, it is recommended to change filters more often.
For example, families with several pets are shedding. In this case, it is important to change filters sooner. Similarly, if family members with asthma or allergies are present, it is important to change filters way often.
You should keep in mind these points in figuring out how often to change filters:
- How much do you use the HVAC system?
- The size of the house
- The air quality
If you have a big house and often use the air conditioning system, more air is circulated, and the filters wear out faster.
Repair malfunctioning parts of the HVAC system
Sometimes the airflow is not good enough because the air conditioning system is malfunctioning. After a while, every system needs to be repaired or maintained. If you notice that your system is not as efficient, unusual signs or if your system is too old, it is time to call a professional and ask for assistance.
Professionals can come, locate the malfunctioning part and replace it. Sometimes, through an inspection of the system, professionals can find holes in the duct and seal it. Holes reduce airflow and have your system run harder.
Duct cleaning
The filters are not the only things that are required to be cleaned. Contaminants and dirt may enter the duct, even debris can enter, and mold can form. All of those things can reduce airflow.
It would be best to take care of duct cleaning once a year to make sure nothing impedes airflow and that your air doesn’t keep being contaminated by dirt.
Schedule HVAC maintenance
It is recommended that your air conditioning system goes through complete maintenance every year. For this, you should get professional technicians to come to your home and perform a series of tests and inspections to make sure everything is working.
During the maintenance, professionals will remove dirt, take care of filters, and make sure air is flowing as it should.
Conclusion
Keeping clean and fresh air flowing through the house is necessary for good health and comfort. In general, you can do a lot by yourself to get better airflow in your home. But in case you need a hand from a professional, don’t hesitate to visit this site.
