After you have your furnace or air conditioning unit serviced, you expect that it will operate efficiently and that the environment inside will be comfortable. Yet, you may notice that the temperature is uneven in certain areas, and your unit seems to be running constantly. If this is the case, you may have overlooked one of the most important systems in your home or building.
Proper ductwork maintenance plays a major role when it comes to efficiency in your heating and cooling system. Having said that, your first step would be to inspect your ductwork for leaks. You should look for disconnected joints or seams, and examine the ductwork for any obvious holes. It is better to have a professional inspect ductwork that is hard to get to. Repairs that can keep your heating and cooling ductwork more efficient are:
- Sealing any opened seams or holes with mastic or heat-approved tape
- Adding insulation with foil to ductwork in attics or basements
- Replacing broken or faulty duct joints with new ones
More Ways to Reduce Air Leaks and Imbalanced Air Flow
You can enhance your ductwork efficiency by maintaining the air distribution in your space. Some simple steps are to keep interior doors open whenever possible, keep furniture and objects from blocking registers, and vacuum built-up dust or debris on the registers. Your best step is to replace your ductwork if it is old or lacks modern efficiency standards.
Ductwork starts to significantly deteriorate by the time it reaches 15 years of age. The key to having the most efficient ductwork system is proper design and professional installation. This ensures that air will be evenly distributed throughout your space, and it will provide balanced supply and return flow to maintain neutral pressure. Furthermore, sealed and insulated ductwork can still leak conditioned air and can contribute to a 20% increase in energy consumption, so you may want to consider discussing energy-efficient options with a licensed professional.
Your best option for efficient ductwork is to have it installed in a conditioned space. Some options include:
- Hiding ducts in dropped ceilings and corners of rooms
- Running ductwork through a sealed and insulated chase that extends to the attic
- Building ducts into sealed raised floors
To discuss your ductwork repair or replacement needs, call 408-295-2182.We have knowledgeable licensed professionals ready to help you get the efficiency you are looking for in your heating and air conditioning system.