How to Improve Airflow in Your Home

Healthy air circulation is one of the best-kept secrets to a happy and healthy home.
There’s a long list of why you should make an effort to boost your home’s ventilation. When you improve the interior airflow in your property, you take a proactive approach against condensation build-up, which causes mould overgrowth and damage to your furniture. You also lower your risks of suffering from allergies and asthma.

In this article, we share several ways on how to increase airflow to one room. Are you ready? Let’s delve right into it!

Change Your Air Filters Frequently

HVAC air filters suck pollutants from your indoor air. When they get clogged with dirt, the airflow throughout the entire system becomes restricted. Aside from discomfort due to poor ventilation, there’s a tendency to deteriorate the quality of the indoor air as it becomes stuffed with dust particles. Dirty air filters burden your HVAC system and make it work harder, which can lead to a malfunction in the long run.

Most HVAC manufacturers recommend routinely replacing your air filters every three months. However, if you run your HVAC system every day for hours, you may need to change your filters every 30 days. For good measure, always check the condition of your air filters. Once they get gray and visibly dirty, it’s clear that it’s time to throw it out and install a new one.

Remove Obstructions from Vents

Take a closer look at your supply and return vents. Clear anything that could be blocking their path. In the case of the air conditioning condenser usually found outside the house, make sure no bushes are getting in the way of its blower. On the other hand, vents inside the house should be blocked by any piece of furniture or curtains to be able to function correctly.

Address Leaky Ducts

Another way to improve interior airflow is by sealing off leaky ductwork that can let the air out. Check your duct regularly for corrosion, holes, or other signs of wear and tear. You can spot-treat minor repairs with duct mastic or foil-backed tape, but it’s best to seek professionals to handle significant issues and to do a routine inspection on the ductwork now and then.

Trickle Ventilators for Windows

Trickle ventilators or trickle vents are little slots or openings installed on the top part of the windows. They can be easily adjusted manually using a cord or rod. The purpose of a trickle vent is to let minimal amounts of air inside a room even when the windows and doors are shut. They are an excellent way to improve interior airflow and filter out unpleasant odours from cooking.

Trickle vents solve your dilemma on how to increase airflow to one room without sacrificing your privacy and protection as opposed to leaving a window open at night. They also don’t let outdoor noise and nasty insects disturb you inside the house.

Conduct Scheduled HVAC Maintenance

Your HVAC system is essential in keeping your home comfortable and liveable all year round. Nothing could be worse than a broken air conditioner in the heat of summer or a failing heating system in the peak of the winter season.

Make it a priority to do annual scheduled maintenance with your HVAC provider or technician. It usually includes cleaning and spot-checking possible issues that are impeding your HVAC’s performance. Regular maintenance saves you from headaches caused by unexpected machine malfunctions and will ultimately help your HVAC last longer.

Add Fans Around the House

Turning on ceiling fans is a simple but surefire way to improve the interior airflow in any room. Set them to rotate counterclockwise to promote healthy air circulation. Although they cannot directly lower the room’s temperature, electric fans produce a cooling effect on your body. In fact, with a ceiling fan on, you can reduce the thermostat of your air conditioner by four percent without noticing any difference.

Window fans, on the other hand, are perfect for exhausting warm air away from the room. Experts suggest that the best way to efficiently cool and increase airflow in one room is to close the windows near the fan and open the ones far from it where the wind comes in. Preferably, you should usher in the refreshing breeze from windows that are shaded from direct sunlight.

 

Replace Old Windows

Your old windows may still appear sturdy, but they may have outdated technology that hinders your heating and cooling system from keeping your home warm and cozy. It can also negatively impact your home’s potential for energy efficiency, which is such a waste considering the money you can save on utility costs.

Modern replacement windows currently offered in the market boast of better insulation capabilities and special glass coating features that surpass the requirements to qualify for an ENERGY Star Rating.

It’s also time to think about shopping for new windows if your present ones are too small, too narrow, or have faulty opening mechanisms. Installing additional or swapping old windows to larger, say double-hung windows, with the option to open when the weather permits, is a great way to improve interior airflow.

Add Interior Windows

Aside from exterior windows, adding windows between interior walls in your home is also an effective way to promote ventilation. Interior windows in the hallways and stairwells allow air to circulate from one room to the other. They are commonly used in architectural designs to apply a natural cooling technique called cross ventilation or wind effect ventilation.

Besides answering questions on how to increase airflow in a room, interior windows also have an appealing aesthetic quality that can elevate your home interior. They are also useful in brightening up an otherwise walled and darkened room or hallway and provides an illusion of spaciousness.

Ready to go window shopping to improve interior airflow at home? Check out their reviews to find a company that can help you!