In the heating cycle, blocked cold air returns can cause the heat exchanger inside the blower compartment to store too much heat and eventually crack. If the cracks are too large, the furnace can emit carbon monoxide into your home's air. Such a condition normally requires a complete system replacement.
Less reach: You may find that your cold or hot air from the air conditioner or furnace does not get as far as it should when your air vent is blocked. Your home's temperature may feel inconsistent, with hot or cold spots. Stagnating air: With reduced airflow, you will have stagnated air through the home.
Insufficient return air can lead to higher energy bills. When your HVAC system doesn't receive enough return air, it must work harder to maintain the desired temperature, increasing energy consumption. Homeowners might notice a spike in utility costs without a corresponding increase in usage.
The engine's combustion relies heavily on air, which mixes with fuel to generate energy. In the absence of a sufficient quantity of oxygen, an engine will not be able to generate power, and it may not even start. Whenever the air filter in your car's engine becomes too clogged, it may start to misfire.
Signs of an air duct clog include: One room in your house is hotter than all the others. Dirty air coming from vents. Unusual spikes in electric bills.
Limited Return Air
You will want to check and ensure that the return vents throughout your vent are not blocked. If these vents are blocked, it can lead to a lack of air being pulled back into your system.
If the water backs up and comes out of the pipe, you'll need to take more drastic measures to clear the clog. Plumber's snake: Bring a plumbing snake or auger onto the roof. Run it down the vent until you reach the obstruction.
Decreased Acceleration and Power
One of the first signs of a clogged intake air filter is a noticeable decrease in acceleration and power. If your car feels sluggish or struggles to pick up speed, it could be due to restricted airflow caused by a dirty filter.
Inconsistent air temperatures throughout your home could be a sign of not enough return air. You may also notice poor indoor air quality that feels stuffy. You also may notice an increase in your utility bill since your HVAC system might be working harder due to the lack of 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.
Because the return air vent works to suck air from a room and back into the ducts, you can try this simple test to see if it is working: take a tissue or thin paper and hold it in front of the return air vent, about 6” away. If the paper is being pulled toward the vent, you know it is doing its main duty.
If there's not enough return air, your living room can be 10℉+ warmer or cooler than, for example, the bedrooms. Not enough return air in summer can cause rooms close to the central unit to be cooler and those farther from it to be warmer. In winter, rooms farther from the furnace can be too cool.
The best fix for return-air problems is to install a return-air grille from each conditioned room in your home back to the furnace, A/C or heat pump. Air coming into the room is balanced with the amount returning, regardless of whether room doors are closed.
Closing air vents can lead to several different issues in your home: It can cause leaks in the HVAC system or make existing leaks worse. It can make your HVAC system less efficient rather than saving energy. Pressure can damage your heat exchanger, resulting in dangerous carbon monoxide leaks.
Blocked outside furnace vents could cause carbon monoxide to build up in your home, potentially resulting in carbon monoxide poisoning. A blocked vent also can affect the performance of your furnace, which may not run properly or not run at all when the intake or exhaust vent is blocked.
If your engine air filter is clogged up, many various things could happen. You would get poor acceleration, and bad gas mileage. Also a dirty or clogged air filter will let dirt into the engine and causing the engine oil to become dirty. Dirty oil could cause premature wear to your engine.
An insufficient air supply means your engine will be running on a fuel-rich mixture, which won't burn completely before it enters the exhaust to leave the car as a black soot-like residue. This residue can be seen as black smoke.
On the heating side, if you block off the return, the exchanger can overheat. “In extreme examples, it can crack and fail,” Smith says. “They're all designed to have that proper airflow and bad things can happen when that's thrown out of whack.”
Put the glass with the handpiece into the water-filled ultrasonic bath. If possible, set the temperature to 50°C (122°F) and activate the ultrasonic power at your usual setting for approximately 15 minutes. Rinse the AIRFLOW® MAX handpiece with tap water.