Keeping your air ducts clean is an important part of HVAC maintenance, and must be performed regularly. Temperature regulation within the home or office will require air to pass through various air ducts. Unfortunately, many people experience problems with their air ducts, and are not sure how to fix them. Below are the top 5 problems you may encounter, and how to manage them.
Many homes suffer energy loss as a result of poor insulation within the air ducts. During the summer, air inside the ducts will absorb energy as it spreads around the home, but during winter the hot air will lose energy as a result of the colder surroundings if the insulation is insufficient. Air ducts should always be insulated properly, and cleaning them will also improve their effectiveness.
When the connections within the ductwork are aligned incorrectly, they can become loose. If they are not sealed properly, air will escape through the space that is unused. This is why it is important for the air ducts to be sealed near the registers and grills, as this eliminates a leakage of air. In addition to causing a tremendous loss of energy, air leakage can also allow hazardous gases into your HVAC unit. Homeowners should always watch for uneven temperatures, as well as rooms which are stuffy. Air leakages can also lead to large energy bills.
When the flow of air that moves through an air duct becomes restricted, the HVAC unit will be forced to work much harder. This will result in higher energy bills, as well as increased malfunction and a lower service life. Air ducts which become twisted, crushed or torn may restrict the flow of air, and residents should always make sure that the ductwork in their homes is installed and inspected by professionals.
Air ducts which are dirty
The air filters within a HVAC unit are tasked with eradicating various impurities from the supply of air. However, homeowners must understand that these systems are not perfect. If gaps are present inside the ductwork, impurities may be sucked in. This can lead to the presence of dust, cobwebs, pollen, dead bugs and fibers within the air ducts. If these impurities are allowed to accumulate, they will compromise the quality of air within the building. This in turn can lead to many health problems. Homeowners can avoid these problems by having their air ducts cleaned regularly.
While some HVAC systems are well designed, others are not. Homes and offices with lots of space will typically use HVAC units that are high capacity, while buildings with less space will use smaller systems. Regardless, if the system is poorly designed this will lead to a lack of efficiency. If your HVAC unit is too big for your home you will lose a large amount of energy, but a system which is smaller than it should be will be forced to work too hard, which can also lead to malfunction. This is why it is important to have a high quality HVAC system installed by professional contractors.