Duct Problems

Your HVAC system is designed to heat and cool your house.   The efficiency of that system is a rating of how well your HVAC does that job.  The more heated or cooled air that makes it from the HVAC system to the house, the better the efficiency of the system.  Research has shown that between ¼ and ½ of your heated or cooled air is lost through your duct system.   If you believe that your HVAC system is not working as well as it used, it is time for Air Duct Maintenance, air filter replacement and HVAC maintenance.  Before you begin that process, however, it would help you to know some of the ways in which your ducts can cause lost efficiency for your HVAC unit.

A) Conduction 

Conduction is a transfer of temperature from one object to another.   For example, in winter, when your heat is on, hot air travels through your supply ducts into your house.  Along the way, however, the hot air also begins to heat the material comprising the duct from the inside to the outside, and then the outside of the ducts begin to transfer heat to their surroundings inside your walls or in your attics and basements.  The heat transferred is permanently lost, in that it does not make its way into your house. 

B)   Ducts that are leaking

Anywhere the air ducts are improperly connected or where holes or other breaches of the ventilation have occurred is a place that drags down the efficiency of your system.  Leakages can occur along the supply ducts, in the return ducts or even at the places where the ducts meet the HVAC fan.  To find the leaks in your system, you must inspect (or have inspected) the ducts.  Most leaky ducts can be repaired, so you hopefully will not be facing a situation where air duct replacement is required. Professionals will have tools that can perform a more extensive inspection than you could perform yourself. 

If you have any questions about whether your vents are leaking and how to find out, contact Air Duct Cleaning Chatsworth and the people there will be happy to answer any of your questions.