How do I adjust the airflow in my furnace?

Author: Henri Skiles  |  Last update: Wednesday, April 30, 2025

How To Adjust Airflow
  1. Locate the furnace or air conditioner and track the ductwork system. ...
  2. Activate the unit's fan by switching it to the on position at the thermostat. ...
  3. Open the dampers or louvers in rooms with lower airflow first. ...
  4. Check the vents in rooms that originally had medium airflow.

How to adjust air flow on furnace?

You want to start by making slight adjustments in each room. If a room is too hot, you will want to crank open the damper just a bit to add more airflow to the room. If a room is too cool during the summer, you will want to slightly close the vent so that it stops some of the air from entering that room.

Why is my furnace not getting enough air flow?

From dirty air ducts, blocked damper valves, damaged duct runs, to an insufficient numbers of return air vents, there are a variety of signs that may indicate a furnace air flow issue in your home.

How to adjust air vents in house in winter?

If you have a top/bottom return vent setup, close the top vents in the winter months. Closing the top vents will make your system draw in air from the bottom vents that are at the low point in the room where cold air settles.

How do I balance my furnace airflow?

Here are 5 ways you can help balance airflow in your home.
  1. Check the Location of Your Thermostat. ...
  2. Keep Rooms and Vents Open. ...
  3. Adjust Ductwork (fix, seal, add new return ducts) ...
  4. Increase Insulation (windows, walls) ...
  5. Install an Air Handler or Zoning System. ...
  6. Call Lakeside for Professional Air Balancing.

HOW TO ADJUST DAMPERS | WHERE ARE THE DAMPERS ON THE FURNACE?

How do you fix an uneven airflow?

Dealing with Uneven Air Flow
  1. Make sure your vents are uncovered/unblocked. ...
  2. Make sure your vents are fully open. ...
  3. Make sure you clean/replace HVAC filters. ...
  4. Make sure your windows are adequate. ...
  5. Duct leakage. ...
  6. Inadequate duct size. ...
  7. Damaged or improperly installed ducts. ...
  8. Improper return vents.

How do I check my furnace airflow?

In general, you need to take a static pressure measurement on the return and supply side of the air handler. This kit is designed to easily and quickly perform this test. Compare this measurement to the manufacturer's max static pressure value. If the TESP is too high, it indicates there's an airflow issue.

How to increase airflow in HVAC system?

How to Increase Airflow in AC: Seven Tips
  1. Change Air Filter. The simplest way to increase AC airflow is to regularly change air filters. ...
  2. Clean Your Vents. Dirty vents can also drastically reduce AC airflow. ...
  3. Fix Duct Leaks. ...
  4. Get Regular AC Maintenance. ...
  5. Resize Air Ducts. ...
  6. Add More Return Vents. ...
  7. Get a New Air Conditioner.

How to balance upstairs and downstairs temperature?

Adjust the fan setting on your thermostat.

Change the fan setting from Auto to On to keep the fan blowing continually, which can help with a more even air distribution. Adjust air registers. Keep the air vents/air registers fully open upstairs, and partially close the air vents downstairs.

Why is my furnace not blowing hard enough air?

The Filter Is Clogged

In some cases, the buildup of dust and debris can thicken to the point where the passage of warm air is blocked by the filter. Therefore, while it might seem as though the furnace is not blowing air, the only real problem is that the furnace needs a new filter.

How to find dampers in ductwork?

HVAC dampers are usually inside your ducts, close to the main air handler. You can find the dampers by looking at the outside of your ducts for a red switch on the exterior. If you can't find the HVAC dampers installed near the air handler, refer to your HVAC system's blueprint to locate them.

Why can I barely feel air coming out of my vents?

Lots of things can cause your blower to have trouble, especially if it gets too dirty. A fan clogged by dirt, a stuck wheel, broken motor, or a loose fan belt are all common problems that reduce the amount of airflow you feel coming from your vents. How to fix: Call an AC tech to examine and fix the blower.

How do you fix a weak air flow?

To resolve weak airflow issues, it is recommended to: check and replace air filters regularly. clear any obstructions near vents or registers. inspect and maintain the blower motor.

Does flex duct reduce airflow?

Additionally, due to its increased surface area, flex duct may impede airflow somewhat when compared with more streamlined rigid ducts. In some cases, an insulated flexible line may also be necessary if sound dampening or temperature stabilization are desired properties of a ventilation system.

How to circulate air from upstairs to downstairs?

So here is my list of options.
  1. Using a ceiling fan to push the hot air down from the upper story. ...
  2. Installing ducting from the downstairs system to the upstairs. ...
  3. Install a second ducted system upstairs. ...
  4. Install a ductless mini-split system in the upstairs. ...
  5. Install Ptac unit upstairs.

What is the best thermostat setting for a 2 story house?

For instance, during winter, most homeowners will have their thermostat settings between 65 °F and 75 °F when warming the house. On the other hand, the best thermostat settings for a two-story house in summer will range between 72 °F and 77 °F.

How do you balance an HVAC in a two-story house?

DIY Solutions for Homeowners
  1. Check for blocked soffit vents (the vents near the attic that allow outside air in)
  2. Look for blockages in supply and return vents that obstruct airflow, such as rugs or drapes.
  3. Try switching the fan to “on” instead of leaving it on “auto” to circulate air continuously.

How to balance furnace airflow?

Add or remove supply and return ducts to deliver enough air to each room. Seal or insulate accessible under-insulated ducts. Add dampers to the ducts. This directs the airflow coming from the HVAC unit and shifts the desired amount to each room.

Why is my bedroom hotter than the rest of the house?

Common issues like leaks, disconnections, or obstructions within the ducts disrupt the flow of cooled air, causing rooms farther from the HVAC unit to suffer the most. In some cases, inadequate insulation of ducts can allow heat to infiltrate, further exacerbating the problem.

Does increasing duct size increase air flow?

The key takeaway here is that air moves from a larger to a smaller duct, the velocity increases. When it moves from a smaller to a larger duct, the velocity decreases. In both cases, the flow rate — the amount of air moving through the duct, in cubic feet per minute — stays the same.

How do I increase the airflow in my furnace?

Here are a few ways to increase airflow through your air ducts and improve the comfort of your home.
  1. Clean the Air Ducts. ...
  2. Add Ductwork Extensions or Registers. ...
  3. Install Automatic Dampers on Your Vents. ...
  4. Replace Furnace Filters. ...
  5. Install a Whole House Fan. ...
  6. Add More Insulation to Your Walls. ...
  7. Seal Up Drafty Windows and Doors.

How do I check my airflow status?

To check the health status of your Airflow instance, you can simply access the endpoint /health . It will return a JSON object in which a high-level glance is provided.

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