Low airflow means that the time it takes your furnace to warm your home is increased. Your furnace has to burn more fuel and raise your energy rates to do its job, and the added stress will be felt in individual components in the system too. You end up with an inefficient furnace or heater and higher energy bills.
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.
Obstructed Vent
One of the most common causes for poor airflow is a blocked vent. To properly heat or cool your home, the air needs to be unobstructed. To see if there are any blocked vents, look by the baseboards or on the ceiling. Furniture, bedding, and the vent damper could all be possible obstacles to the vent.
Persistent Odors: Homes should refresh and clear out odors naturally through proper ventilation. If cooking smells, smoke, or other odors last longer than they should, it's likely your home isn't circulating air properly.
Air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Household combustion devices, motor vehicles, industrial facilities and forest fires are common sources of air pollution.
Low airflow is typically caused by one of two things: something is either preventing the air from moving through your system, or there is a problem with the force pushing the air. However, there are many potential causes involves, and the last thing you should do is waste time guessing.
The best method to accurately measure airflow is with an anemometer. This device has been a standard for many years, and it measures air speed and velocity by using cups attached to a spinning device. The air moves the cups, which are connected to a sensor that reports various data points.
Effects on overall health
Fresh air does not enter and stale air is not removed to the outside. The consequences are: Increased risk of respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergies. Increased risk of developing respiratory problems.
Air purifiers are portable devices that combine an internal filter and fan to pull in unwanted particles from the air in a specific room. Purified air is then circulated back into the room. The filtration process repeats several times an hour, continually boosting indoor air quality.
How Often Do I Need to Change Out My Air Filter? Generally, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your air filter every 90 days, or 3 months. That can change based on where your home is located (ex. dusty, dry climates), if you have any pets, and the age of your system and equipment.
There are several reasons your vents are not putting out the amount of air they should. These include: Dirty or clogged air filters. Blockage in the vents.
Consider using indoor fans in combination with open doors or windows to further increase ventilation. In addition to specialized window fans, box fans or tower fans can be placed in front of a window. Fans can face toward the window (blowing air out of the window) or away from the window (blowing air into the room).
Uneven heating and cooling patterns – Dirty air ducts can also affect the distribution of air throughout your home. When ducts are clogged with dirt and dust, some rooms may receive less airflow, resulting in uneven heating and cooling. This means that your system has to work harder in some areas of your home.
Dirty or clogged air filters can impede the airflow in HVAC systems, reducing ventilation efficiency. Restricted airflow leads to poor air circulation and compromises indoor air quality.
Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) has been tied to symptoms like headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Also, some specific diseases have been linked to specific air contaminants or indoor environments, like asthma with damp indoor environments.
Rain typically cleans the air, capturing particulates and absorbing some gases in the process, such as ozone and certain nitrogen oxides and sulfur compounds. The finer the rain or mist, the better this gaseous absorption occurs. Rain is a good air washer but is not 100% effective.
Air pollution is a risk for all-cause mortality as well as specific diseases. The specific disease outcomes most strongly linked with exposure to air pollution include stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, pneumonia, and cataract (household air pollution only).
Using fans while the windows and doors are open will get air moving even faster. Use a dehumidifier if the air feels and moist stuffy. If you're in the bathroom or kitchen, turn on the exhaust fan to get air moving. In the kitchen, you can also turn on the range hood fan (if you have one).