There are many good reasons to optimize airflow in your home, ranging from increased comfort to saving money on heating and cooling costs – and that’s just the start. This leads to two important questions:
- Are you satisfied with the current airflow in your home?
- Are you familiar with the steps you can take to improve it?
If you recognize the need to improve airflow in your home, there are five steps you can take to make this happen.
1. Leave Vents Open
There are times when you’re tempted to close particular vents in your home. For example, if the second floor of your home is generally hot during the summer months, you may close vents on the first floor to force more cool air upstairs. Leave all your vents open when possible, as doing so promotes better airflow. Not to mention the fact that it saves you money, as your HVAC system isn’t forced to work harder to make up for the pressure caused by closed vents.[i]
2. Regularly Change Your Air Filter
It doesn’t always hold true, but as a general rule of thumb you should change your air filter once every 90 days.[ii] This improves airflow, while putting less strain on your HVAC system. If you wait too long, excess dust, allergens, and debris can build-up on the filter. With each passing day, this makes it more difficult for air to pass through.
3. Leave Interior Doors Open
Even if you have vents in every room, closing interior doors hinders the ability for air to circulate freely throughout your home. Take for example the second floor of your home, which may consist of a hallway that leads to multiple bedrooms. By leaving all the doors open, at least when the rooms aren’t in use, you improve airflow and make it easier for your system to cool or heat the entire floor.
4. Use Ceiling Fans
This increases airflow, which is particularly important during the summer, while also keeping your cooling bill down. While ceiling fans alone don’t lower the temperature of your home, the breeze can cool you off. This gives you the opportunity to turn up your thermostat, which can save you big money during the summer months.
5. Inspect Your Windows
The goal is to improve airflow in your home. You don’t want to improve the airflow out of your home.
Make sure your windows are closed tight and caulked appropriately. This keeps the cool or warm air in, allowing it to circulate throughout your home.
Tip: don’t jump to conclusions and assume that you need new windows. A bit of caulking may be all it takes to improve the energy efficiency of your windows (even those that are old).
As a Boston resident, good airflow is important to your health, comfort, and budget throughout the year. If you have any concerns about the performance of your HVAC system, contact us to schedule an appointment.
Sources:
[i] https://www.howtogeek.com/263656/how-to-optimize-your-homes-airflow-to-save-money-on-your-ac/
[ii] https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-often-to-change-a-furnace-filter/
Categories:
Energy Efficiency
