Do you have a high-efficiency HVAC system but your energy bills are still high? Does it seem like some parts of your home just can’t stay comfortable? Many home comfort problems aren’t the result of something wrong with your furnace or air conditioner, but rather poor ductwork design. For your HVAC system to function efficiently, your ductwork must have all of the four design elements listed below.
4 elements of good ductwork design
- Ducts are properly sealed. If there are any openings in your home’s ductwork, conditioned air can escape before it reaches its final destination in your home. This can cause your HVAC system to work overtime and waste a lot of energy. Openings in your ductwork can also lead to air quality problems because unfiltered air can get into your home’s airflow. For these reasons, your entire duct system needs to be tightly sealed.
- Ducts are insulated where needed. If you have ducts in any unconditioned parts of your home, they should be insulated to prevent heat loss or heat gain inside your ductwork (depending on the time of year).
- Ducts allow for neutral pressure. For your HVAC system to be able to “breathe” properly, it must have balanced pressure. This requires an adequate amount of supply and return ducts as well as a duct system that is sized properly (see below). Without neutral pressure, your home can experience problems with comfort and air quality and your HVAC system will consume a lot of energy.
- Ducts are sized properly. Your duct system must be sized according to what kind of HVAC system you have installed and the design of your home. If your ducts are too big or too small, you’ll likely experience airflow problems and high energy bills.
If you have any questions about ductwork design, or if you’d like a heating system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning, Electrical and Plumbing, your St. Louis heating and air conditioning company. We service the St. Louis area and surrounding towns like Frontenac, Maryland Heights, and Ballwin.