California Energy Consultant Service

Hot air rises. This is a fact that causes homeowners throughout the Sacramento area with multi level homes a good deal of discomfort during the summertime. While your AC can keep your downstairs comfortably cool, bedrooms and other spaces on the top floor often remain warm. 

In addition to the physics behind warm air rising and cooler sinking, this problem is also often the result of low AC fan pressure on upper floors. If you can put your hand in front of one of your upstairs registers and feel only a small amount of cool air, or no air at all, this low fan pressure could be impacting your ability to cool your home.

Causes of Low AC Fan Pressure 

Low fan pressure may be the result of a particular issue with your AC system or a shortcoming of the layout and capabilities of many central air systems. The first step in finding a solution to increase that pressure – and subsequently your comfort – is to identify why your fan pressure is low. The most common causes include:

• Further Traveling Distance – Depending on where your air handler is installed, your AC fan may have a significant distance to push air, and pressure will naturally fade as the distance increases. The floors and rooms furthest from your compressor will naturally have diminished pressure.
• Closed Vents – This one may seem obvious, but catches many homeowners by surprise, particularly if it has been a while since you have looked at your registers. If registers are closed even slightly, they will keep air from getting through. Check all your upstairs registers to be sure they are fully open and not broken. 
• Clogged Air Filters – As air filters do their job of pulling dust and germs out of the air, they will begin to clog up over time and make it more difficult for air to pass through. Replacing your air filter frequently, at least once a month, is the best fix for this issue. 
• Air Moves Toward the Most Direct Escape – If your ductwork has a lot of twists and turns to reach upstairs bedrooms, air is more likely to divert into other spaces since pressure forces air out through the easiest exit.
• Your AC is in Need of Repair – Issues with the AC unit itself, particularly with the fan, mean the initial cool air output and fan pressure can be significantly decreased, compounding challenges of getting cool air with the right pressure all the way to your upper floors.

Low fan pressure is challenging for multiple reasons. Not only does it decrease the comfort of your home, but it can also make your system less energy efficient by requiring you to run your AC more in order to keep upstairs spaces cool.

Fortunately, there are many ways to increase AC fan pressure with options for making adjustments to your current system, scheduling repairs or tuneups to boost efficiency, or installing auxiliary equipment that will improve the system’s overall functionality.

One of the best ways to determine what will work for your property is by working with California Energy Consultant Service. We are experts in both efficiency and comfort with AC systems, and our NATE-certified technicians can inspect, repair, and install all of the central air equipment and other AC solutions necessary to make your home as comfortable upstairs as it is downstairs. Get started improving your fan pressure and AC output with a quote from CECS. Contact us today to learn more.