QUESTION FROM Bekkie

Air flow is very light coming out of the vents. We did install an in-line fan hoping that would force more air out seems to be helping some. We change the air filters about every 30 to 45 days, and the air conditioner outside is ok.

I would like to be able to just not have it so cold in the lower level and so warm upstairs.

Can you think of any thing we can do?

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD

Bekkie:

Have you tried doing something like the following:

o open the supply vents on the lower level.

o have someone go upstairs and feel the upstairs supply vent.

o then fully close all of the vents on the lower level.

o then ask the person upstairs if when you closed the lower level if they could feel an increase in the air flow from the upstairs' supply vent.


If there is no (or very, very small) change in air flow when you do this, then I'm wondering if:

1) there is a damper in your ductwork that is stuck in the closed position (You said that you have only lived there for 2 year, so maybe the previous owners didn't want to spend the energy/money to cool the upstairs, so they put in a damper to keep the cooling all down on the lower level?).

2) or there is an obstruction in the ductwork going up to your second floor.

Just let us know what you find out. If this doesn't work, maybe we can figure out something else which could be causing your problem.

Regards,
Home-Wizard.com