4 Duct-System Issues That Undermine Heating Efficiency

If you have forced-air heating and cooling, duct systems are used to distribute hot and cold air around your home. Ductwork is notorious for wasting large amounts of energy, which in turn increases your utility bills while detracting from home comfort. Here are four duct-system issues to watch out for.

• Uninsulated ducts: In most cases, ductwork is made from thin metal, a highly conductive material that readily transfers heat. Heat loss through uninsulated ducts can be significant if the ductwork travels through unconditioned spaces such as the attic, garage, or a crawl space. In these areas, transferred heat is wasted.
• Torn or disconnected ducts: Take a look at exposed ductwork to discover any holes that are large enough to see. If you can peer into an opening, you can be sure air is escaping through it. Flexible ducts can tear during or after installation, and entire sections of ducts can become disconnected over time because of forceful airflow. Whatever the cause of these duct-system issues, they should be addressed as soon as possible.
• Blind-alley ducts: On occasion, ductwork is poorly designed to use the building structure to channel airflow. It’s rare, but sometimes blind-alley ducts occur, which is when a duct leads nowhere and leaves a register with no heat source. If there’s a register in your home that doesn’t seem to have any airflow, it’s worth exploring.
• Inadequate return ducts: Leaky return ducts don’t supply the air necessary to keep a furnace or air conditioner running efficiently. Often in older homes, only one or two centrally located return registers exist. This is inefficient since ideally every room with a supply register should also have a return register for pressure equalization and consistent temperatures throughout the home.

All of these duct-system issues can be solved by a knowledgeable HVAC service technician. If you suspect your system is suffering from any of these problems, please contact us at Fred’s Heating and Air in Omaha today. Our experience dates back to 1987.