The HVAC systems in our homes need an adequate amount of airflow to distribute the treated air throughout your home. When the airflow is insufficient, you may notice a lack of performance and your home will feel less comfortable. Let’s take a look at three common causes of HVAC airflow problems.
- Identifying Airflow Symptoms
If you have airflow issues, you may notice one or more of the following symptoms.
- A Pressure Imbalance: Have you noticed strange whistling noises, drafts that were not there before and doors slamming by themselves? These are all good indicators that there is a pressure imbalance somewhere in your home.
- Hot and Cold Spots: If you have hot and cold spots throughout your home it could be a sign that the airflow in your home is being interrupted. The treated air is not reaching the areas that it should, and this will lead to uneven temperatures.
- No Air Coming from the Register: If there is no air or even warm air coming from your air conditioning registers then there is an airflow problem.
If these warning signs are ignored, there will be no improvement in performance. These airflow issues will not correct, and the problem will only get worse. When the airflow is impeded, it can lead to a greater strain on the compressor, which is vital to your HVAC system. Eventually, this will lead to a compressor failure, this will be expensive to fix and the part may even have to be replaced.
- A Blocked Condenser Unit
This is a very common airflow problem, and it’s pretty easy to fix yourself. An air cooled AC system will have a condensing unit that will be located on an external wall or in a mechanical room. Outdoor units can quickly become obstructed by plant growth, fallen leaves and other yard debris. This material builds up around the condenser unit and causes an interruption airflow. If the condenser is located in a mechanical room, there may be stored items and other equipment stacked around the unit. Move all obstructions away from your condenser unit, and the airflow will be drastically improved. If the situation isn’t improved, eventually the HVAC system will overheat, and this can lead to equipment failure.
- Obstructed Vents and Registers
This is another simple fix that any homeowner can attempt to improve their airflow problems. Go through the home and make sure that all the air vents and registers are open and ready to deliver treated air. You may find that some vents are covered by furniture or storage boxes, and this will impede the airflow. This problem is pretty common in offices where employees cannot agree on an appropriate thermostat setting. In these cases, it isn’t unusual for HVAC technicians to discover that some employees have covered nearby air vents with filing cabinet because they feel too cold!
If you cannot find the source of your airflow problems, it’s time to call on a local HVAC company to investigate further. Remember that you are paying an energy bill to make your home more comfortable. This money is wasted when the HVAC system cannot work effectively and efficiently to improve your indoor comfort.