How to Create Airflow in a Room

Co-authored by Victor Belavus

During the summer months, it can be hard to cool down if you don't have - or don't want to spend money on - air conditioning. Luckily, you can easily create airflow in your rooms to bring in a breeze and cool yourself off! For simple solutions, try opening a window or creating cross ventilation or - for a more permanent fix - make slight changes to your room or building so you can stay cool all summer long.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Simple Solutions

1
Open the door to easily increase airflow. If you can, prop open a door to allow the hot air that's building up in your room to flow out and balance the temperature around your house.^{[1]
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Victor Belavus
Air Conditioning Specialist
Expert Interview. 6 May 2020.}
- If the room has multiple doors, prop them all open to increase air flow across the room.
2
Open a window if you want to keep your door closed. If you have air blowing into the room, opening a window will help draw it out, creating airflow.^{[3]
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Victor Belavus
Air Conditioning Specialist
Expert Interview. 6 May 2020.} You can use this method with a closed door, as long as you have air blowing in from the A/C.^{[4]
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- You only need to open the window 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) in order to start drawing the hot air out of the room!
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3
Make sure the air conditioning vent is open if you have A/C. An air conditioner can help create airflow even if you don't want to set it to "cool." Simply make sure the vent is open and put in on fan mode, so you can have air circulating through the room and cooling you down.^{[5]
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Use ceiling and box fans to generate circulation. If you don't have air conditioner, purchase a box or ceiling fan for a cost-effective way to circulate air.^{[6]
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Victor Belavus
Air Conditioning Specialist
Expert Interview. 6 May 2020.}^{[7]
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- Use a dehumidifier if the air feels stuffy.^{[8]
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  Expert Source
  
  Victor Belavus
  Air Conditioning Specialist
  Expert Interview. 6 May 2020.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creating Cross Ventilation

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Place a window-mounted box fan facing inward. Ideally, try placing the box fan in a window that faces the wind. Install the box so that it faces inside the room and pushes cooler air into the space.^{[9]
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- To make your box fan most effective, close the window as much as possible after you place the box fan in the window.
2
Place a second window-mounted box fan across the room facing outside. Put the second fan in a higher window if possible, as hot air rises, and set it to blow outwards. Place it in a window that's not facing the wind. Pull the window down to the top of the fan.^{[10]
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- This process creates a vacuum, drawing air through the room and cooling it down.
3
Use reversible fans if the wind in your area changes direction frequently. Reversible fans give you the option of turning the fans around with little to no heavy lifting, so that you can have the coolest room possible.^{[11]
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Add extra fans in the middle of a large room. If the space is large, encourage air movement by placing another fan in the middle of the room. The fan should blow towards the fan facing outward to encourage the air to go out.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Modifying the Room or Building

1
Cut a 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) opening in the door. A small 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) hole in your door can create airflow and cool down the room.^{[13]
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- You can leave the door as-is or insert a transfer grill to make the cut less obvious.
2
Install a return duct. Return ducts push air back to the air conditioner, allowing it be used again. That helps increase airflow because the cool air coming into the room has somewhere to go.^{[14]
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- If you don't already have these in your home, they can be expensive to install.
- One basic way to create return air ducts is to cut a hole in the floor in the wall cavity. Connect it to the room and the return air with metal sheeting.
3
Use jump ducts to allow air flow in and out of the room. Jump ducts are u-shaped tunnels that create the same effect as leaving the door open, as they allow air to flow back out of the room when it comes in through the AC vent. For best results, install jump ducts in the attic. To install:^{[15]
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- Cut holes in the ceiling drywall.
- Place the jump duct above the rooms, and connect the registers on the duct to the beams.
- Seal the registers to the drywall using caulk.
- Then seal the registers to the duct using the approved ties and metal tape.
- In the rooms, place a ceiling grill under the duct.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I clean the air vents in my house?

Victor Belavus
Air Conditioning Specialist
Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of experience working with HVAC systems.

Victor Belavus

Air Conditioning Specialist

Expert Answer

Air duct cleaning entails large negative pressure vacuums and roto brush equipment which is costly and too bulky for individual use. You could try to remove floor and wall grills and vacuum inside with shop vac as much as you can reach. I would suggest hiring a certified air duct cleaning company for this task.