One of the easiest ways to tell that something has started to go amiss with your home’s forced-air heating system (furnace, heat pump) is a drop in the airflow coming from the vents. This will correspond with a reduction in the warmth in your home, and will cause cold spots to appear in rooms. This requires that call a professional repair service to come to your home to diagnose and remedy the problem.
There are a number of different reasons for airflow reduction, which is why this job requires trained technicians to investigate it. We’ll go over some of the more common reasons that your heater might lose its regular airflow. Call up Rentmeister Total Home Service for the help you need restoring your heating in Salt Lake City, UT: we’re ready to assist you 24/7.
Why your heating system may have low airflow
- Ductwork leaks: The ductwork that transports the air from the heat pump or furnace air handler must maintain a seal along its length so the air pressure doesn’t drop. If breaks occur at connectors or if corrosion creates holes in the ductwork sealing, the pressure will drop and the airflow coming from your vents will drop as well. This requires duct sealers to fix (duct tape won’t work!) before your ducts develop serious contamination through the leaks.
- Thickly clogged air filter: The air filter in a furnace or heat pump is set on the return air vent and prevent the air circulating through your home from transporting dust, dirt, hair, dander, and other contaminants into the heater’s cabinet. This filter needs to be changed once a month during the height of heating season or else it will become so clogged with trapped debris it will choke off the airflow. You will probably need to have a technician do a check on your heater as well to make sure dust hasn’t infiltrated and damaged the heater’s components.
- Malfunctioning air handler: The air handler is the component of any forced-air system (and this includes air conditioners as well) that contains the blower and blower motor (as well as dampers and, in the case of heat pumps, refrigerant coils) that distribute the conditioned air into the ductwork. If the air handler starts to wear down and its motor malfunctions, it will cause airflow to decrease. Usually an air handler can be fixed, although sometimes the unit need replacement—which can often be done without having to replace the furnace or heat pump as well.
Call for professionals
Make sure you have a skilled and experienced Salt Lake City, UT heating contractor handling repairs for your heating system when airflow drops. Rentmeister Total Home Service has served people’s home (as well as many businesses) since 1953, so make us your first call for repairs.