Poorly Installed Heat Runs Could Affect Furnace Air Flow

A newly installed furnace should create a nice and steady air flow that provides heat to the whole home. However, improperly installed heat runs (a duct item that takes heat through the system) could be causing serious problems. That's why it's so important to check this during installation and to know how to fix the furnace afterward.

Measuring Air Flow

Before assuming a furnace's air flow is off because of improperly installed heat runs, it is important to carefully test it. The easiest way to do that is to use a store-bought air-flow meter and gauge it with a cardboard box. The box should be about 12 by 12 inches to provide an accurate air-flow measurement.

Hold the air meter up to the box (which is placed around a vent) and test how much air is coming out. The meter should indicate whether the air flow is too high, too low, or just right. Low air flow is most likely caused by improperly installed heat runs, which is a problem that occurs when the furnace is installed.

Reducing Air Flow Through Poor Installation

Heat runs are attached to the furnace and are designed to flood air through the house. Improperly installed ducts may end up pumping heat nowhere or pumping it inefficiently. For example, a heat run that isn't properly sealed and flush to the sides of the furnace could leak heat and air that would decrease the air-flow efficiency of the furnace.

Even worse, crushed, blocked, or even disconnected heat runs could occur if they are improperly installed and are allowed to stay that way. Calling a professional furnace-installation expert is important here, particularly if you can contact the company that installed the furnace. They likely offered a warranty that would make it possible to get the necessary repairs done for free.

Installing Too Many Heat Runs Is Also A Problem

When working with heat runs, it is important to understand how installing them can change the air flow to other rooms. For example, a heat run leading away from a specific room will redirect heat from that area and into another. Adding too many heat runs is another problem because this can cause the heat to flow over a larger area.

This will, in essence, decrease the air flow of the furnace. When you are installing heat runs, it is important to have one main run that takes the heat through the house and side runs that go into each room. Any more than this will decrease the air-flow efficiency.

Talking to the furnace inspector during this process and streamlining the number of heat runs will ensure that the bare minimum are used while providing your home with the proper level of heat.

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