Ductwork is a much more essential part of a central HVAC system than many people realize. The return ducts bring air into the system so that it can then be conditioned. The supply ducts then transport the heated or cooled air around the building. If the ductwork in your building isn’t properly designed and installed or has any other issues, it can greatly decrease the performance of your air conditioning and heating. That means your comfort may suffer, and you also may have to pay much more to cool and heat your home or business. We’ll explain all you need to know about how ductwork impacts HVAC performance and what options you have for optimizing your ducts to make your AC and heating work more effectively.
How Ductwork Design Affects HVAC Performance
A fairly common issue that impacts homes and businesses is that their ductwork system weren’t properly designed or installed. This issue directly impacts HVAC performance and energy efficiency since it prevents the system from being able to circulate the proper volume of air it needs to work effectively. A ductwork system that is undersized, oversized or poorly designed also typically causes heating and cooling units to wear out prematurely. This is because the HVAC system has to work a lot harder to keep the home comfortable and thus experiences much more strain and greater wear and tear.
Undersized ductwork is a problem since it makes it extremely difficult for the blower to move air through the ducts and around the house. What essentially happens with inadequate ductwork is that the HVAC system produces more cold or hot air than the blower can circulate. This then leads to the air produced by the system quickly starting to back up and causing the air pressure inside the ducts to be much higher than it should be. The increased pressure in turn leads to greater resistance, which makes it much harder for the blower to move air around the house.
Oversized ductwork is an equally big problem since it makes it much more difficult for the blower to circulate air to every part of the home. That means you’ll usually have extremely weak airflow in the rooms that are at or near the ends of each duct branch. The weak airflow then leads to those rooms typically being hotter than you want in the summer and colder in the winter. The main issue in this regard is that most people then try to overcome the hot or cold spots by adjusting the temperature setting on their thermostat. This leads to the HVAC system running more, using more energy and experiencing greater wear and tear that can shorten its lifespan or lead to frequent breakdowns.
The fact that undersized and oversized ductwork can create so many issues is why it’s important to choose a knowledgeable, experienced HVAC company when replacing your cooling or heating. You need to ensure that the technician takes the time to evaluate your existing ductwork and make sure that it is the correct size for your new AC, heat pump or furnace. It doesn’t make sense to spend money on a new HVAC system if your ductwork isn’t properly designed and the size it needs to be for the new equipment to work efficiently and effectively.
The Impact of Duct Cleaning on Your Heating and Cooling
Another thing every home and business owner should understand is that dirty ductwork also has a direct negative effect on HVAC performance and efficiency. The reason is that all of the dust and debris that slowly builds up inside air ducts over time essentially creates barriers. That means that the cold or hot air will encounter more resistance as it flows through the ducts, and the increased resistance makes it more difficult for the blower to circulate air through the duct system. Dirty ductwork is also an issue in terms of indoor air quality and cleanliness since it leads to the HVAC system spreading lots of dust and allergens around the building whenever it runs.
Most experts say you should have the ductwork in your home or business professionally cleaned every three to five years. That way, you can keep your air conditioning and heating system working as effectively as possible and keep your energy bills lower. Another advantage of regular ductwork cleaning is that it’s an easy way to prevent or overcome many indoor air quality issues.
The Benefits of Professional Air Duct Sealing
Air leaks are one of the most common ductwork issues that affect homes and businesses. Any type of ductwork can be prone to developing leaks or getting damaged over time. One reason is that ducts can sometimes start to come loose and begin sagging, which can lead to gaps where two sections of ductwork meet. The connections between pieces of ductwork are usually sealed with foil tape or mastic to ensure the ducts are airtight. The issue is that foil tape and mastic both slowly lose their stickiness over time, leading to the ducts leaking because they’re no longer fully sealed.
Ductwork leaks greatly reduce the efficiency of an HVAC system and can lead to it wasting as much as 20% to30% of the energy it uses. That’s why it’s important that you have your ductwork inspected and the airflow in your HVAC system tested regularly. Testing the airflow or air balance allows a technician to easily spot issues like an improperly calibrated blower or duct leaks that are preventing the HVAC system from circulating the volume of air needed in order to work effectively. In most cases, you’ll need to have your ductwork resealed at least once every 10 years and replace your ductwork every 20 to 30 years.
The Importance of Ductwork Insulation
Ensuring that some parts of your ductwork system are properly insulated is also essential for maximizing the performance of your heating and especially your air conditioning. In Arizona, it’s quite rare to find homes that have a basement since the majority of houses are built with a monolithic concrete slab foundation. The only problem with having a slab foundation instead of a basement or crawl space is that it often means you need to install the air handler and the main supply ducts in the attic.
This can be a problem because most attics aren’t air-conditioned, so they can be extremely hot in the summer and fairly cold in the winter. If the ductwork in the attic isn’t properly insulated, the cold air from your AC will quickly get much warmer as it moves through your ducts. Similarly, the hot air from your heating system will cool before it flows out of your vents. Making sure the ducts in your attic are fully insulated can hold the key to an effectively working HVAC system, using less energy and having as long a lifespan as possible.
Emergency Air Heating Cooling & Plumbing is a locally owned company offering exceptional HVAC services in Chandler and the Phoenix metro area. We specialize in ductwork installation and repairs as well as duct cleaning, and our team is always ready to handle all your air conditioning and heating needs.
If you need any HVAC, plumbing or indoor air quality service, give Emergency Air Heating Cooling & Plumbing a call to get the professional assistance your home or business deserves.
