According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners can lose up to 60 percent of their heated air through leaky or poorly insulated ductwork. This is a waste of efficiency, money and warmth on a cold day. By maintaining HVAC efficiency through better ductwork design and maintenance, homeowners can have the best running system for the money.
Ducts Inside Conditioned Spaces
As much as possible, placing the duct system inside conditioned spaces in the home – for example in the basement – is one of the simplest ways to maintain HVAC efficiency. When installed in this fashion, the ducts may lose conditioned air, but at least it’s escaping into the home where it provides heat, rather than into unconditioned areas or up the chimney. These ducts will need to be well sealed and preferably of the “trunk and branch” type.
Ductwork Design Upgrades
While the above mentioned duct system is preferred, not all homes have that type of system. Rather than redoing the system you have, you can arrange to make some design upgrades to improve your air flow. Here are some simple tips to help your air distribution:
- Vacuum the registers so that you remove the dust buildup.
- Check furniture, rugs, and other objects to make sure they’re not blocking vent flow.
- Insulate your ductwork in unheated areas.
- Undercut doors for return air or install new return air grilles.
- If there is a troublesome room, check for inadequate insulation or air leaks, and then check on adding ductwork to that room alone.
Don’t lose energy through duct leaks and poor insulation in your Glen Carbon home. If you would like to ask questions, have a friendly consultation, or just want to find out how you can improve your HVAC efficiency, call the friendly experts at Ernst Heating & Cooling.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ductwork design and other HVAC topics, visit our blog.
Ernst Heating & Cooling services Hamel, Illinois and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!