Whether you’re adding ductwork to your home, replacing old ducts, or starting an entire duct system from scratch, there are a number of factors you need to consider. Ductwork that is efficient and properly installed can last for decades and reduce your energy consumption and costs.
Sealing and Insulating Air Ducts
The efficiency of ductwork is affected by a few different factors, and sealing and insulating your ducts is one of the best things you can do to keep them from losing energy. Cracks or holes should be sealed with duct sealant and poor connections should be properly secured. Once this is accomplished, you can use fiberglass blankets or rigid foam board to insulate the ductwork in areas that don’t get conditioned air.
Duct Location
Location is one of the most important ductwork considerations, because ducts have the potential to waste a lot of energy if they’re poorly located. Placing ducts in a conditioned space is a good decision wherever possible, because unconditioned areas like crawlspaces, attics, garages and unfinished basements expose ducts to adverse temperatures that can lead to energy loss.
System Configuration
The overall configuration of your air ducts is key to an efficient heating and cooling system. There are several different configurations and a wide range of factors to consider, but duct configurations fall into two basic categories. You can either construct the system so that there is a return duct in each room that sends air back to the HVAC equipment; or the system can be configured so that each floor has a central return duct. The size and layout of your house plays a role in which configuration is ideal for you.
Maintenance
Whether you are starting a new duct system or just updating your old one, maintenance is key to its efficiency and longevity. An annual check is also a good idea to make sure no leaks or other problems have developed.
To schedule an appointment to have your ducts serviced, or if you just want more information on HVAC efficiency, contact Hansberger Refrigeration & Electric. We’ve been serving the Yuma area since 1952.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ductwork considerations and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Hansberger Refrigeration & Electric Co services the Yuma area in Arizona. Visit our website to see our special offersand get started today!
