Clear the air, literally
Have you ever adjusted the thermostat, but it just doesn't seem to reach the temperature you want? If sticky notes or tape you’ve posted to your wall are peeling off because they're sweating, your coffee instantly turns into an iced latte, or it feels suffocating upstairs but perfectly breathable downstairs, you may be dealing with restricted airflow. We'll show you how to get more airflow from vents.
Basic science explains why airflow can feel uneven or constricted in different parts of your home: hot air rises, cool air sinks. Even if you keep the thermostat consistent, this is why it feels hotter upstairs than downstairs.
More heat is also generated downstairs, usually from cooking in the kitchen. As your heating and cooling unit works overtime to reduce the temperature after dinner, that hot air rises to the upper floors and makes it hotter in those rooms.
The sun also produces heat, and the roof basks in it all day. This effect is only magnified if there isn't much shade around your home and the roof is a dark color. Sidewalls in upstairs rooms can trap the heat from sunlight in a similar way, turning them into saunas.
If you live in a one-story home, but the air seems stale or too hot or cold, other HVAC problems like dirty filters or leaky ducts are usually the culprit.
If your house isn't cooling down or heating up like it used to, before calling in a pro for air duct maintenance, make sure all your vents and return vents are open and unobstructed.
Not sure if constricted airflow is the problem or if it's another ductwork issue? You'll know that diminished airflow is your main problem if you notice any of the following:
It's too hot. You have constricted airflow if you're cranking up the AC, but constantly feel like a human version of boil-in-a-bag rice. The cold air isn't getting circulated.
It's too cold. Inversely, if your home feels like an igloo, the heat from the furnace can't get into the ducts.
The air seems stale. If you regularly go in and out of your home, it shouldn't feel or smell like it hasn't been lived in for months. Even if you don't notice troublesome temperature changes, stale air is a telltale sign of blocked airflow.
Constricted air flow might affect only part of your home, usually upstairs rooms. If multiple duct problems persist, it can affect the entire home.
Fortunately, you don’t have to tolerate a stuffy home or being too hot or cold. You can make your HVAC system more effective at circulating air with the following improvements.
Supply air and return air need to be balanced, but there's no such thing as too much return air. By installing more return vents throughout your home, they can trap the air and remove it, improving air circulation.
A drawback with this method is that your ductwork needs enough space to support additional vents. Smaller homes that can't add more vents need to pursue other options.
Think of standard return vents as a personal pizza that isn't very shareable. Giant, deluxe return vents are like a huge pizza that can feed several people. Except instead of sucking in cheese and pepperoni, that giant return vent is eating hot, cold, or stale air and constantly sharing it with the rest of the HVAC system.
Giant return vents are especially effective at increasing airflow from downstairs if it's too hot upstairs.
However, it may not be a viable option for older homes where you can't easily switch to larger vents and/or ducts.
Ductwork itself is a major limitation. Ducts can be noisy and temperamental, and if they're too big or small for your home, they can cause airflow problems. If your home's ducts are incredibly old, but renovations aren't feasible, ductless systems eliminate this problem.
Portable ACs, window units, and mini-split ductless heat pumps are flexible options meant to fit one room or space instead of an entire home. They don't rely on ducts to circulate air. This means less clunky and expensive duct cleaning and maintenance. Ductless systems are ideal for condos, small homes, and rooms with poor airflow because they're too close to the roof.
Depending on the climate where you live, ductless systems can provide efficient year-round heating and cooling. But if temperatures drop below freezing where you live, ductless systems may be fine for cooling but not heating.
Zoned HVAC systems fix the unevenness issue in multi-story homes. Rather than one universal thermostat, these systems create personalized zones so they each have their own temperature. Each floor can be set to a different temperature as well.
Smart zoning is incredibly comfortable and energy-efficient. You can combine a zoned HVAC system with smart thermostats and other climate control devices to control temperature and airflow from your phone.
Your local duct installer can walk you through the best HVAC options for your home based on its age, size, and airflow troubles. If you want to upgrade to zoned HVAC, a basic two-zone system costs between $1,700 and $2,000, with additional zones adding another $350 to 500. Adding a smart thermostat runs $100 to $250 per device.
Ductless zoning can cost $2,000 to $6,000 per room, although portable and window ductless options cost as little as $ 100 to $800.
Before considering drastic and expensive options like a new HVAC system, these preventative tips might help with your air flow issues.
You might not realize that your furniture or stuff is blocking vents. Move these items so that the vents can do their job.
Got a guest room, but stuff from forgotten hobbies sleeps there more than guests? Partially closing vents in unused rooms will redirect the airflow to rooms you use more often.
This is particularly important if your home has multiple stories, but you’re unsure how to get more air flow from vents upstairs. Completely shutting the vents on lower floors will make those areas stuffy. But if they’re less open, it sends more air upstairs without turning that home office into an airlock.
Filters are the beating heart of an HVAC system. They can clog, fit poorly, or need replacement. If your air flow feels uneven, a dirty or ill-fitting filter could be the cause.
Older ductwork can constrict airflow. Cracks and holes from age or poor maintenance will leak air. The air escapes through these leaky points instead of flowing through the ducts and out the vents. If just one duct has this problem, it can be easily fixed. If too many ducts are cracked, it could be time for a complete HVAC overhaul.
If stale air is your main problem, ventilators are the solution. Ventilators routinely push stale air out and draw fresh air in, so the airflow increases and stays consistent.
Ventilators also reduce energy consumption and humidity, preventing mold and other gross and expensive problems. Because they also pre-condition the return air, it puts less strain on your HVAC system.
Proper insulation in your attic and sidewalls can absorb a lot of that excess sunlight and heat that makes it too hot, especially on upper floors.
For most of the home improvements in this article, it's best to consult an HVAC professional. Air conditioning components use refrigerants, which require licenses and training to install and handle correctly. Adding new thermostats for zoned HVAC systems may require changes to the wall and wiring, which carries a major risk of electrocution and injury.
Small window AC units can be safely installed by the average person. No additional materials are needed except caulk to seal cracks between the unit and window, which costs $3 per tube. Usually, window units have all the required hardware in the box. But if your windows need modification, or you're installing the unit on a higher floor, it's best to get professional AC installation, which costs $60 to $300.
The simplest way is opening the windows so that stale air or fumes can easily escape and fresh air flows in. If opening your windows isn't an option, ceiling fans and box fans can clear particles out and get the air moving. Air purifiers can also clean the air while making it circulate better.
Dirty filters are almost always the cause of poor airflow, so they should be regularly cleaned and then replaced as needed. The fan blades can also get dirty, so they should be cleaned when the unit is turned off. Make sure that the outdoor area around the back of the unit is unobstructed. Trees, shrubs, trash, and other objects could be too close to your unit.
Yes. It's not just AC filters that get dirty. Ducts can accumulate dust and dirt quickly. Insects and animals can also get into duct systems, creating many problems. Dirt build-up and unwanted guests can constrict the airflow and cause rooms not to cool evenly. You might also see higher energy bills because they're not working as efficiently.
