Acker Heating & Cooling

Your HVAC system is designed to evenly distribute hot and cold air throughout your house. This means that discrepancies in the amount of air that passes through the ducts might produce problems. If you have hot or cold spots in certain areas in your home, you likely have a problem with airflow in your ducts. In this article, learn how you can improve airflow through your HVAC ducts from the trusted air conditioning experts at Acker Heating & Cooling.

What Is Ductwork?

With the thermostat serving as the brain of your home, your furnace serving as the heart and your ductwork serving as arteries, an HVAC system is comparable to your body’s circulatory system. There are return air ducts and supply air ducts in your home, just as there are veins and arteries in your body. The return air ducts transport unconditioned air from your house to the furnace, where it’s conditioned. The supply air ducts are responsible for delivering conditioned air into the house. Your HVAC system will struggle to keep you comfortable in your home if your ductwork isn’t in excellent working condition.

What Is the Significance of Your HVAC Ductwork?

The ductwork in your home is responsible for circulating the air throughout your residence. There are numerous advantages to having ductwork that’s fitted and installed properly. For one, it will lessen the strain on your air conditioning system, extending its life and saving you money on your energy bills. As a result, your air will be cleaner, as dust particles, allergies and pathogens will be less likely to float around inside your house. With better air circulation, your HVAC system will be able to filter more contaminants.

Another factor is your general level of comfort. Given the fact that it provides stable, even temperatures throughout your house, installing decent ductwork in your home will help prevent the formation of hot and cold spots. If your ductwork isn’t properly sized and installed, issues may occur. Improper ductwork causes a backlog of air to build up within your ducts, forcing your HVAC equipment to work harder and potentially have a shorter lifespan.

Causes of Low Airflow From Your HVAC Ducts

Blockage. The air filter in your HVAC system acts as a gatekeeper. It captures and holds dust, dirt, pollen and other airborne particles before they can enter your heating and cooling system and cause problems. In addition to keeping your interior air cleaner, it also helps prevent your HVAC equipment from becoming clogged with dirt and debris.

The air filter in your home may be blocked or dusty, or it may be the wrong size and shape for the ducts in your home. If the filter is the wrong size and shape, you may notice weak airflow from the ducts. To pull the same amount of air in as before, a clogged filter forces the system to work harder to clear the obstruction. Not only does this have an impact on your energy efficiency, it also impacts the flow of air through your cooling and heating systems. 

Leakage. If your ducts have any fractures, gaps or seams that allow air to leak through, this might affect your airflow. Air escapes through fractures in the ductwork instead of blowing slowly and continuously through the ducts and out the vents, reducing the amount of air that makes it through the vents.

Undersized or oversized ductwork. If the ducts are too large, the air is lost in the process of moving from the source to the destination. If the ducts are too small, the HVAC system won’t be able to properly push the air out of the building. Improperly-sized ducts will reduce airflow, regardless of whether they’re too large or too small.

How to Improve Airflow With HVAC Ducts

Keep your HVAC ducts clean. To ensure that your air conditioner continues to perform as intended, it must be properly maintained and examined regularly. This is highly encouraged because air conditioning vents tend to collect the dust and debris that’s floating around in your house, and when this dirt accumulates, it can obstruct the airflow coming out of the vents. This can be remedied by simply wiping them down during your daily cleaning routine. Residential and commercial HVAC contractors can help you with cleaning and maintenance.

Always check your filters. Since this is frequently ignored, you should request that your air conditioning service contractor check things properly. and make sure that your ducts are clean and free of blockages and debris. 

Keep in mind that getting the correct type of air filter is important, as they’re all rated differently. The most common type of air filter is MERV 1 to 4, suitable for most domestic air conditioners. MERV 5 to 8 filters are typically found in schools, offices and other light buildings with commercial HVAC systems, but they can also be found in residences, particularly if the homeowners want to filter more air. While MERV 9 to 12 filters are uncommon for homes, they’re used in much larger buildings with powerful HVAC systems, such as shopping malls. Lastly, the air filters typically found in sterile areas, such as hospitals and laboratories, usually have MERV ratings of 13 to 16.

Good Airflow Means Better Home Ventilation

The following are some of the advantages of maintaining good airflow with properly-maintained ducts:

Keep contaminants under control. A good ventilation system will aid in the removal of pollutants, bacteria, moisture and undesirable odors such as body odor.

Air quality management. You have no control over the air movement in your home unless you have a good ventilation system in place. Too much fresh air can result in high energy costs, which is why good ventilation helps manage airflow.

Prevent condensation. Condensation can cause mold and rotting materials. Many people experience health difficulties as a result of damp surroundings and condensation, such as allergic reactions and respiratory problems. However, ensuring that your home has a well-functioning HVAC system in place will help mitigate these hazards.

Lower the temperature. When there are a lot of people in your house, the atmosphere can quickly become hot and stuffy. A properly-ventilated space is instantly more comfortable, resulting in a more relaxed, enjoyable environment.

Health advantages. Another advantage of good airflow is that it has a positive impact on your health and well-being. Indoor air pollution combined with poor ventilation can cause a variety of health issues such as headaches, allergies, asthma, rashes and sinusitis. This, however, can be avoided by installing a good HVAC system.

Leave behind HVAC-related stress by working with us. Acker Heating & Cooling offers professional services for heating systems. Call us at (706) 715-2607 or fill out our contact form to book an appointment.