Without ducts, your furnace or air conditioner would be practically useless. The heated and cooled air produced by these systems could not be sent to any locations within your home. If something goes wrong within that air distribution network, your indoor comfort will suffer, energy will be wasted and you'll spend more than necessary on your utility bills. Here are some things to look for that will help you determine if the ductwork in your home needs attention.
Air and energy leaks: When air and energy escape from your ducts, you'll experience reduced levels of home comfort. Turning your furnace or air conditioner up to compensate will only waste more energy and cause your energy expenditures to increase. Check ductwork for loose sections; all sections must fit tightly together and be properly sealed to prevent air leaks. Reseat any loose sections and seal connections with mastic or metal tape. Standard duct tape is not recommended because the adhesive can dry out and let leaks reopen.
Damaged or disconnected ducts: Damaged, disconnected or missing sections of ductwork can cause major air and energy leaks. Call your local trusted HVAC contractor to inspect your ducts and repair or replace any problems areas.
Use of house cavities instead of actual ductwork: In some situations, crawl spaces, areas between joists and similar cavities have been used to channel airflow from the HVAC system. Doing so allows large amounts of air and energy to be lost. Actual ducts must be used to ensure conditioned air is directed into your home with the greatest efficiency and the least possible waste.
Uninsulated ducts: Ductwork material is relatively thin, so the chance of energy loss through the metal of the ducts themselves is high. Insulate ducts with rigid fiber board insulation, and make sure ducts are routed so that they do not travel through unconditioned areas such as garages, crawl spaces or unfinished basements or attics.
Air Assurance is a longtime provider of HVAC sales, installation and maintenance for customers in and around Tulsa. Contact us today for more information on ductwork efficiency and for expert help finding and solving problems with your ducts.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock