Low airflow is a common complaint we hear from our customers regarding their underground air ducts. Depending on the type of duct system you have in your home (overhead vs. underground) and factors related to your system, airflow issues can be quite common.
Low airflow can have several different causes, including:
- Dirty furnace filter. Here at Trenchless Innovations, we recommend changing your furnace filter every 30 days. Dirty or clogged filters restrict airflow through the filter, therefore, causing rooms to take longer to heat or cool.
- Wrongly rated furnace filter. All furnace filters are rated on a scale referred to as MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value). Rated from 1 to 16, the higher the rating, the greater the particles captured by the filter. Using a filter too highly rated for your furnace makes it inefficient and reduces airflow throughout your home.
- Crushed, blocked, improperly installed or disconnected duct runs. The absence of airflow through registers could mean the underground air ducts are crushed or collapsed. We recommend an underground air duct camera inspection to confirm.
- Duct leakage. Another common cause of low airflow is duct leakage. When air escapes through small holes and cracks in the duct pipes, the system does not run as efficiently.
- Not enough home air return vents. Each room in your home should have at least one return air vent, with larger rooms having more. If you notice some rooms with hot or cold spots, this could be what is happening. Having the proper amount of return air vents in your home creates consistent air pressure and therefore, even heating and cooling in each room.
- Undersized vents or oversized ductwork. If your vents are too small for your home, the ducts will be unable to carry the necessary volume of air through them. If your ductwork is too large for your system, your system will have to work harder to push air through the ducts, leading to system inefficiencies and therefore, little or no airflow.
An air duct inspection from Trenchless Innovations can get to the bottom of your low airflow issues and our team can provide you recommendations for correcting your air duct issues. Call us today!