Any steps you take to maintain airflow in your HVAC system will pay you back in better heating and cooling performance, enhanced indoor comfort, and lower operating costs. Airflow measured in cubic feet per minute is among the most vital specification in your furnace or air conditioner. If a qualified, experienced HVAC service technician visits your home to repair some issue, measuring airflow is one of the first diagnostic tests he’ll perform. If air volume isn’t up to specs, most every other system indicator will be affected as well.

Here are some of the steps required to maintain airflow to manufacturer’s specifications for optimum performance and efficiency:

Change the filter.

All HVAC airflow passes through the air filter. A dirty filter steadily strangles system functions and components. Comfort and efficiency decline as operating costs and wear and tear increases. To maintain airflow properly, during winter furnace season, check the air filter monthly and install a replacement filter at least every other month. During summer operation of your air-conditioning system, replace the filter every month.

Keep all room vents open.

Closing supply or return vents in individual rooms doesn’t save money the way you might expect. Your HVAC system keeps on heating or cooling the same amount of circulating air whether or not all vents are open. What too many closed vents does is disrupt the carefully balanced distribution of air throughout the entire system, meaning some rooms then receive too much and some get too little. Temperature control suffers, comfort takes a hit, and costs increase.

Check the ductwork.

Without intact ducts, heated or cooled airflow never gets where it’s supposed to go. In residential installations, ductwork tends to leak as time goes by. Eventually, it becomes impossible to maintain airflow adequately to all parts of the house as air leaks into unconditioned zones like the attic, crawl space, or inside walls. If your home’s more than 10 years old, schedule a duct-leakage test with a qualified HVAC contractor and learn more about ductwork sealing options.

For more advice and professional service to maintain airflow, contact Powers Heating & Air.