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Author: Ariela Ruiz

fan creating airflow

Tips To Maintain Better Airflow

Written by Ariela Ruiz on . Posted in Air Quality.

When it comes to heating and cooling, it is normal to solely focus on if your home is comfortable or not. Many overlook the importance of other factors, such as proper airflow. Good air circulation in your home is essential for many reasons and can be the cause of a broken unit. Without the ability to efficiently move air, your health and heating and cooling system face the consequences. In this blog, we will discuss the importance of good airflow and tips to improve circulation.

Why Is Airflow Important?

Proper airflow makes breathing easier for residents, because it helps regulate temperature and allergen buildup. Your home will have inconsistent temperatures throughout if airflow is hindered, which sacrifices comfort. Each room may experience hot and cold spots and different temperatures daily. Without air circulation, allergens and pollutants can settle in your home and increase health symptoms. For example, moist conditions combined with poor ventilation can cause mold and mildew growth.

What Causes Poor Airflow?

Poor airflow can be caused by many things, but the most common reasons include a blocked or dirty unit, obstructed vents, or clogged air filters. If you are unsure if you have poor airflow in your home, consider the following issues:

  • Hot and cold spots
  • Weak or no air coming from vents
  • Dust buildup
  • Doors closing by themselves
  • System blowing the wrong temperature air
  • Whistling noises

How To Improve Airflow In Foley

If you are experiencing one or multiple of the airflow issues, we have you covered! Below are 6 tips to improve airflow in your home.

  • Utilize Fans
  • Maintain Clean Filters
  • Open Windows
  • Ensure Vents Are Clear
  • Clean Unit
  • Schedule HVAC Maintenance

Utilize Fans

To create better airflow in your home, we recommend using various types of fans.

Ceiling fans can help circulate air in specific rooms and regulate room temperatures. Pro tip: ceiling fans have different settings for summer and winter, so it will not freeze you out in the winter in the correct setting!

Exhaust fans in bathrooms and over stoves can help ventilation by moving air outside. If your stove fan does not move air outside, the ventilation continues to improve airflow by not keeping particles in the same area.

Stand alone fans can benefit air circulation, especially if placed blowing out a window. The CDC recommends fans to blow out windows, because it relocates particles and allergens outside.

Maintain Clean Filters

Air filters remove allergens from the air flowing through the system and into your home. If air filters are dirty or clogged, your system struggles to push air through the filter pores. This can reduce airflow and allow pollutants to slip by. It is essential to maintain clean filters throughout your home to maximize airflow, air quality, and efficiency.

Open Windows

Opening windows and doors brings in fresh, outdoor air and ventilates built up allergen particles. However, it is important to note outdoor air has pollutants of its own to sensitive residents. If residents have health conditions such as asthma, opening windows can be unsafe for their health. Be sure to evaluate outdoor air quality before opening windows and doors. If your outdoor surroundings are safe, bring in as much fresh air as possible to improve airflow in your home.

Ensure Vents Are Clear

To ensure proper airflow, add vent cleaning to your home cleaning checklist! Your system can struggle to push air through vents if they are covered or dirty. Make sure each vent in your home is open and clear of furniture. Additionally, dirty vents can spread allergens throughout your home and decrease air quality.

Clean Unit

If your heating or cooling unit is dirty, airflow can be obstructed. Outdoor units can collect debris such as grass clippings, branches, and trash. Indoor units can collect dust and be hindered by items surrounding it. It is best to ensure your unit is clean and clear of debris and personal items, such as boxes, to maximize air flow and system efficiency.

Schedule HVAC Maintenance

We promise – heating and cooling maintenance is necessary! Your Anchor Air technician will thoroughly inspect your unit and identify any malfunctions or obstructions. Our expert technicians will clean the unit from the inside out, clean air filters, and ensure each vent has proper airflow. Our goal is to keep you comfortable and maintain a reliable unit!

If you are struggling with airflow in your Alabama home, consider these 6 simple tips! Our technicians can help improve airflow in Foley and surrounding areas with heating and cooling maintenance, so give us a call to schedule your appointment! Anchor Air can help keep you breathing easy and comfortable all season long.

Air Conditioning Myths

Written by Ariela Ruiz on . Posted in HVAC myths, Air Conditioner Repair.

Since air conditioning was invented in 1902, there have been many misconceptions developed over the years. DIY projects and unreliable internet information have led to expensive AC repairs and homeowners spending unnecessary money. We are here to separate the fact from fiction when it comes to air conditioning systems. In this blog, we will explore common air conditioning myths and provide truthful answers to help homeowners save money and remain comfortable in their home.

AC Myths, DEBUNKED!

Let us help set the record straight, below are 6 common air conditioning myths:

  • Bigger AC Systems Are Better.
  • Closed Vents Save Money.
  • Your Home Will Cool Faster On A Low Thermostat Setting.
  • Duct Tape Is Meant For Ductwork.
  • Thermostat Placement Does Not Matter.
  • Your AC Unit Does Not Need Preventative Maintenance.

Myth: Bigger AC Systems Are Better.

Bigger AC systems are not better for your home. Your air conditioner should be properly sized with many factors about your home considered. An oversized unit will not cool your home faster or increase energy efficiency. They actually do the opposite and use more energy to run, which raises your utility bills.

Myth: Closed Vents Save Money.

Closing air vents in vacant rooms will not save you money, but potentially cost you more. Air will relocate into your ducts if your vents are closed and could cause air duct leaks from the pressure. Air leaks lead to high bills and decreased efficiency ratings.

Myth: Your Home Will Cool Faster On A Low Thermostat Setting.

Your home will not cool faster just because of the low thermostat setting. Your air conditioner runs in cycles until it reaches the thermostat setting, which means it will take the same amount of time to cool no matter the thermostat setting. Altering your thermostat in hopes to cool your home quicker will only result in costly bills and an overworked air conditioner. If you want to feel cooler faster, consider utilizing your ceiling fan for a cool breeze.

Myth: Duct Tape Is Meant For Ductwork.

Contrary to the name, duct tape is not meant for your ducts in your home. Many believe duct tape is a good fix to air leaks, however, duct tape can not withstand the temperature changes inside your ducts and will not hold for long. Give us a call if you suspect air leaks in your ductwork and we can provide a long term solution.

Myth: Thermostat Placement Does Not Matter.

Many do not know that the placement of your thermostat is very important to your cooling system. Factors such as direct sunlight, windows, and doors can allow your thermostat to take inaccurate temperature readings and not effectively cool your home. It is best to place your thermostat in a central location on an interior wall.

Myth: Your AC Unit Does Not Need Preventative Maintenance.

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, right? Wrong! Your air conditioner should have maintenance check ups twice a year, in the spring and fall. Just because something it’s visibly wrong, doesn’t mean there isn’t an internal problem. Your Anchor Air technician can help detect and fix problems before they become costly ones with AC preventative maintenance. Don’t run your air conditioner until it breaks down, call us now to schedule your fall preventative maintenance!

Consider the truth we provided if you have been practicing some of these common air conditioning myths. We are here to debunk the myths to prevent homeowners from using them in the future. To ensure your comfort and a healthy air conditioning system, remember the truths from this article. Your AC unit and bank account will thank you for saving money and energy!

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