Update Your Ductwork For Comfort and Savings

Ducts channel the air to and from your HVAC unit which means they affect the indoor air quality, temperature and comfort of every room. A duct system is also called ductwork.

Duct replacement can contribute to lower energy bills and increased comfort by helping your HVAC system distribute air more efficiently throughout your home. Old ductwork can be leaky and contaminated and may cause even new heating and cooling equipment to not deliver the results you expect. Insulated duct board can also reduce system noise compared to metal ducts as well as helping to reduce noise transmission between rooms for a quieter home.

Yes and no. Ductwork doesn’t affect the performance of your HVAC unit itself; however, it does affect the efficiency of the system overall. Your HVAC unit produces heated and cooled air, but it depends on your duct system to deliver that air efficiently to reach the desired temperature. So, imagine you buy a brand-new AC unit, and you pay more to get a great unit with a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. (The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient--and often more expensive--the cooling unit is) Even though the unit performs as promised, leaky ductwork can reduce the delivered SEER (the ACTUAL efficiency of the system overall) by 20 to 30%--meaning you’re only getting 70 to 80% of the performance you’re paying for.

A poorly performing duct system can cause extra wear and tear on your HVAC equipment, decreasing its efficiency while increasing your energy bills. Leaky and worn out ducts can cause your HVAC system to work harder to heat and cool your home. In addition to higher monthly bills, this excess load can cause equipment to wear out sooner than it should. So, having your ducts inspected may help you avoid costly repair bills and optimize equipment life.

If you’ve noticed that your furnace or air conditioning unit is constantly running or that your energy bills seem high, there could be a problem with your duct system. The best way to know for sure is to have an HVAC professional inspect your system for leaks, incorrectly sized ductwork and whether your attic is properly insulated. First, a visual inspection will take place for obvious flaws. For the not so obvious problems, your contractor may use specialized equipment to test for defects and duct leakage using a blower fan or a thermal imaging camera. Next, the airflow rate at the system fan is measured for overall efficiency. Once these tests have been performed and a diagnosis is made, the contractor will share and discuss the results with you to determine whether or not your system would benefit from resealing, resizing or reinsulating.

There are several potential causes for excess dust in the home. Poorly sealed ducts may pull in dust from your attic or basement, contributing to the problem. If you suspect your duct system may be a factor, talk to your HVAC professional and have your duct system inspected.

If the air coming out of your registers has a musty odor while your air conditioner is running, there could be mold and mildew in your HVAC system. Because mold spores can be distributed throughout your home via your duct system, it can become a health hazard, especially for people who are prone to allergies. If you notice a strong smell or musty order coming from the vents in your home, contact a reputable HVAC professional and have your HVAC unit and ductwork inspected.

A properly insulated home and properly sized and sealed ductwork help save money on your energy bills by reducing waste and optimizing the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

Insulation serves as a barrier to heat flow, helping to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The rules of thermodynamics tell us that heat always wants to mix with cool until the temperature difference no longer exists. So, in the heating season when temperatures are colder outside the home, insulation provides a thermal envelope to help keep the heat inside the occupied space. During the cooling season, insulation is an effective tool in keeping the hot air outside the home and cooled air inside.

Your ductwork can also benefit from insulation. Duct insulation helps maintain the temperature of the air inside the ducts, quiets the sound of your air handling system and helps reduce room-to-room noise through your ducts–all of which help make your home a quiet, comfortable place to be. There are several ways to create an insulated duct system. You can add insulation to metal ducts by adding a separate insulating liner or wrap. You can also replace or supplement metal ductwork with an all-in-one product such as insulated duct board or flexible insulated duct. Talk to your HVAC contractor to find the right solution for your needs.

Choose a contractor who is knowledgeable about duct systems as a whole, one who is properly trained and equipped with the testing instruments required to help you identify and solve any pre-existing ductwork problems. This is especially important when installing a new HVAC system.

If you suspect you may need a duct update, here are some good questions to ask your contractor: Do you use a camera or thermal imaging camera to inspect my ducts? Are my ducts operating at full efficiency? Are my ducts sized appropriately for my system? Is my attic properly insulated? Can you check my ducts for leaks? Even the ones I can’t see? I’m thinking about replacing my HVAC unit. Does that mean upgrading my ducts, too? Why is my HVAC unit so loud? When I turn on the air, it smells like mildew. What could be causing that?