Indoor Airflow: Three Ways To Adjust It

If your energy bill is up or it takes a little longer to feel cool air when you turn on your air conditioner, it might be due to inadequate airflow. Luckily, there are some easy ways to improve the airflow without needing serious repairs. Here are three ways to adjust your home's indoor airflow.

Move the Register Levers

One of the first ways to adjust the airflow in your home is by adjusting the registers. This is actually one of the easiest ways to get better airflow, so it should be the first thing you do. The registers might either be in the walls or floor of your home. Some homes also have them on the ceiling, but this is rare. They are typically on the floors of certain rooms, or on the wall high up near the ceiling so they are out of the way. Registers look like vents, which allow the air to flow through the vents and into the rooms to provide hot or cold air when you turn on the HVAC system. Most registers have a lever that you can move to open or close them. Make sure they are opened all the way. If there is not a lever, you need to actually move the slats manually to increase airflow.

Adjust the Ducts

The next thing you can adjust to get better airflow in your home is the different ducts. Ducts allow air to go from the heat or cooling source into different registers. The ducts will either be installed in crawl spaces, attics, or basements. If you're not sure where they are, you can contact an HVAC professional to locate them for you. Like the registers, the ducts should have levers that let you see inside them and make sure there aren't any blockages and that the ducts are fully open. If the damper is closed, go ahead and use the level to open them and increase airflow. If they are already open but you don't get good airflow, look inside the ducts for blockages. They might need to be cleaned of dirt, dust, and dander, all of which can build up and cause lack of proper airflow.

Add Manual Airflow

The last step is to manually improve the airflow in your home. This means you are not improving the venting system, but actually adding another source of airflow in your home. For example, if it is a hot day and the air conditioner isn't making it cool enough in your bedroom, try using a floor fan to blow that cool air around. Ceiling fans can also help with this, though they would need to be installed. This lets you keep the HVAC system on at a lower level, while using another form of air to reach the preferred temperature.

For professional help, contact a company such as Ricks Repair Service.

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