The ductwork in your home is an important component of your HVAC system. It’s what transfers hot and cold air from your unit to your vents and back, providing the heating and cooling that you need.
But the one thing many homeowners might not know is that the design and maintenance of their ductwork plays a huge role in overall HVAC efficiency. Without proper duct service in Satellite Beach, Fl, it’s uncommon to encounter problems with air quality and increased energy bills.
If you’ve been wondering why your ductwork is so important, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn exactly what your ductwork is and why it needs proper maintenance.
What Exactly is Ductwork?
When you think about your HVAC system, the air conditioning and heater might be the two things that come to mind. While both of these components are important, they’re only one part of the equation.
To properly heat and cool your home, the air needs to run through ductwork. As the air is dispersed, it runs through the ducts and is then returned to the main HVAC system. When properly installed and service, your home maintains the right temperature in every room.
However, if your ductwork wasn’t installed properly, is old or not serviced regularly, you may start to notice a fluctuation in temperatures inside your home, improper cycling of your HVAC and even increased utility bills.
Air Quality
Ductwork also plays a major role when it comes to indoor air quality. Poor-maintained ducts are the perfect breeding ground for dirt, pollen and other allergens to accumulate, which are then carried along with the air that’s being pushed through the ducts and into your home.
It’s these contaminants that then result in a fine layer of dust on hard surfaces even though you clean regularly. What’s worse is that if you or family members suffer from allergies or asthma, you might notice worsening symptoms.
It’s also important to note that even if your ductwork is clean, leaky ductwork is more likely to contain dirt and dust particles due to pressure differences, carrying them throughout your home with heated and cooled air.
Dirty ductwork can easily be cleaned by an experienced professional to eliminate allergen buildup and reduce the amount of dust spread throughout your home. In addition, sealing any leaks in the ductwork will improve your indoor air quality simply by eliminating pressure differences that prompt the scattering dust throughout your home.
Air Transport
Your ductworks’ main responsibility is to transport hot and cool air from your HVAC throughout your home. To maintain efficiency, your ductwork needs to be in good shape and sealed properly, without leaks. Leaks in your ductwork allow air to escape before it reaches its final destination.
If this happens, you might find yourself adjusting the thermostat to achieve the temperature you want because of air leaks. In turn, this often results in higher utility bills and possibly excessive wear and tear on your HVAC system.
Some tell-tale signs that your ductwork may be leaking include hot or cold spots in different areas of your home, excessive amounts of dust in your home and hyperinflated utility bills.
An experienced HVAC professional can assess and diagnose any issues with your ductwork to determine if there are leaks and how to best seal them to recover heating and cooling efficiency.
Installation and ductwork maintenance is a job best left to professionals. If you’re in need of duct installation or repair, we can help.
Contact Climate Experts Air, Plumbing & Electric today to schedule an appointment with our professionals. We’re “Your Indoor Weathermen.”
