Duct system design is an important part of any home’s forced-air heating and cooling system. If not done right, it can result in years of energy losses, decreased efficiency, and possibly even lowered air quality. Your ducts’ job is to deliver conditioned air throughout your home, and then return air to the HVAC equipment to be reheated or cooled. If air is being lost through leaky or defective ducts, or heat is transferring in and out of uninsulated ducts, you’re paying to condition air that’s not getting where it’s supposed to go.
There are four keys to an effective duct system:
- Ductwork should run inside the conditioned space in the building whenever possible. It wastes energy to run ducting through parts of the building that are not climate controlled.
- The right ducting material needs to be used. Flex ducting is easy to install but hard to seal. Ducting resists mold but is less flexible. It takes a certified contractor to know which to use.
- Ductwork must be sealed! Every crack or opening that forms is your valuable dollars going to waste.
- Buildings change over time. Stresses and natural settling can damage your ductwork. Having regular service and maintenance is essential.
The weather extremes in the Fresno area can be tough on heating and especially cooling equipment, and that makes effective duct system design crucial to your home comfort and efficiency.
Want to learn more about ductwork or speak with someone about replacing or upgrading an existing ductwork system? Please contact us at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning. We’re the best Fresno has to offer.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about duct system design and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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