When planning an update to your heating and air conditioning system, people often forget a very important part - their ductwork!

Whether hidden under your home or up in the attic, it is vital to your home comfort. You’ll learn in this article how ductwork affects your home comfort and when to have a ductwork evaluation.

How Leaking Ductwork Affects Your Home Comfort

If your ductwork is old and leaking out the conditioned air many negative things can happen.

Here is a list, just to name a few!

• Your system will have to work harder to make up for the “lost” air.
• This can cause unwanted wear on your system. • It may increase energy bills.
• It can let dirt and debris enter your system, causing air quality issues.
• It will not cool or heat your home as well.

Improper ductwork design and/or installation is another problem you may have. Your heat pump could be top-of-the-line. However, when paired with bad ductwork, you’ll never obtain its benefits. The main sign of a design or installation problem is hot/cold rooms.

When Should Someone Have a Ductwork Evaluation?

There is no definite answer to this. The lifespan of ductwork varies based on the material used and many other elements.

If you’re considering replacing your HVAC system, it’s usually a good idea to have a ductwork evaluation at the same time. Why spend all that money on a new system if it is attached to a leaking, old duct system?

Or, if your system is newer but you’re still experiencing hot/cold rooms or are having air quality issues or extremely high energy bills, then a duct evaluation might be needed.

During an annual maintenance visit, the service tech will do a quick visual inspection of the ductwork. So, make sure to have that service performed yearly!

How Would Someone Schedule a Ductwork Evaluation?

Contact our office! We’ll come out free of charge to evaluate it. We’ll inspect the duct installation and the overall condition. Depending on the age and severity of spots that are leaking, they’ll either give you a quote to repair it or replace it. Replacement is the only option, in most cases, if the ductwork was improperly designed.

“Ducts that leak heated air into unheated spaces can add hundreds of dollars a year to your heating and cooling bills, but you can reduce that loss by sealing and insulating your ducts.” -Energy.gov

O’Brien Service Company is a certified Trane Comfort Specialist and works on both residential and commercial systems. The company’s highly trained and versatile technicians can expertly handle complex repairs and installations and provide advice on the benefits of regular maintenance. To arrange a free at-home consultation, call (910) 799- 6611, or visit the company’s website at www.obrienservice.com.