Preventing Energy Loss In Your Ductwork — Whether Your Home Is New Or Older

Preventing Energy Loss In Your Ductwork — Whether Your Home Is New Or Older

Because all of the conditioned air in your house travels through the ductwork, there is a considerable chance of energy loss in this part of the system. In new homes or old, however, there are effective ways to prevent this energy loss and the waste of money that results.

Design
The design of both the supply and return ductwork has a significant effect on duct efficiency and energy loss. Your duct system must be designed to fit within the space available to it. Depending on your home’s configuration, the design could be insufficient to supply conditioned air to all parts of your home. Too many “Y” branches or damaged ducts can also mean poor performance. Design factors are easier to address during new construction, but even in existing homes, ductwork can be reconfigured to be more efficient.

Sealing
The entire network of ducts must be adequately sealed to prevent air leaks and energy loss. Each section of the ductwork should fit tightly together with adjoining sections, particularly elbows and joints. Connections should be sealed with mastic or metal tape. Common duct tape is not recommended since the adhesive can dry out and fail over time. Ducts should also be adequately insulated since energy can be lost through the thin metal of the ductwork itself.

Sizing
Ducts must be correctly sized to be effective and prevent energy loss. They must be big enough to carry and distribute sufficient amounts of heated or cooled air to the farthest points of the duct network. They cannot be too small or they will restrict airflow within the system.

Placement
Ducts should be placed in conditioned and insulated areas of the home where possible. Running ductwork through garages, crawl spaces, or unfinished basements or attics increases the possibility of energy loss.

Since 1969, Air-Tro Inc. has provided design, installation, repair, and maintenance to customers in the greater Los Angeles area, including L.A. and Orange Counties, Riverside metro, and San Bernardino County. Contact us todayfor answers to your questions about ductwork efficiency and what can be done to minimize energy loss throughout your ductwork system.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about ductwork and other HVAC topics, visit our website.

Air-Tro Inc. services the greater Los Angeles area as well as the metro areas of Riverside and San Bernardino County.