My apartment's AC has very weak airflow coming from vents. What's the best way to mitigate (fan type to buy, placement, etc)? I currently have multiple oscillating floor fans in each room that do a so-so job, but wondering about alternatives in case my building manager can't do anything about it.
You have to sneak into other apartments and close their vents
>You have to sneak into other apartments and close their vents
uhm.. other apartments dont SHARE the ac unit dummy. each unit has its own condenser and evaporator unit. what ghetto frick apartments have you been living in? goddamn
Doubtful the bldg owner is going to cut out any walls to fix anything, but there’s a good chance the air handler shroud is where you’re losing all the air flow. Go to the air handler and feel around the top, if you feel an air leak duct tape it closed. I wouldn’t do any more than that if I was renting, but can give more advice if you’re feeling adventurous. Good luck
So I've decided to just install my own window AC unit, only problem is the windows in my place are vertical sliding ones. What's the best material(s) to use to fill the gap of window (there is no screen)?
Why increase your energy costs by running an window unit versus getting the problem fixed? If your airflow is bad you either have:
>a hole at the main supply trunk line at the air handler
>a dying fan motor
>clogged filters
>a dirty coil
You can fix any of these things yourself. Open up the unit and look at the coil. Like other poster said make sure you don’t have some obvious joke in the ducting coming off the unit. Change your filters. If the coil is dirty buy a ‘coil fin comb’ from a supply house over the counter and clean off the dust and hair, then buy a can of leave-on coil cleaner and spray the frick out of it
Well, there is another potential cause which I have in my house: wrong size ductwork. My ductwork dates from the 60's and were built for heat, not AC. As a result the cool air doesn't circulate well enough. The upstairs is generally 5 degrees warmer than the downstairs and no amount of register adjustments can fix it. Replacing the ducts would entail opening walls. Not gonna happen. I have been toying with the idea of a supplemental in-duct fan for the upstairs.
You’re fricked unless you want to try replacing the blower fan for a larger CFM size fan yourself, but that will frick with all kinds of things if it’s too drastic. You’re better off with the window unit until you feel like just upgrading to minisplits. Never install another system on that ductwork
duct could be torn, installed improperly or have completely fallen off somewhere as well.
>Inb4 your breakers/fuses keep blowing because your window shaker draws 1200 watts
yes i'm sure more fans in your apartment will solve low flow through vents
Check the filter to make sure it's clean. If it is blocked up it will reduce airflow.
This. Especially if you've never done it, or have animals.
It's like $300 for AC cleaning service.
https://www.amazon.com/BIOWIND-Register-Booster-Control-Thermostat/dp/B0BS6H6XV2
May be helpful....