4 Ways Ductwork Impacts Your Home’s Comfort

One of the most overlooked but important aspects of your home comfort is your ductwork. When thinking about home comfort, we often focus on our heating and cooling systems, thermostats, or the insulation. The truth is, the ductwork is a key component that can cause major issues if it isn’t properly cared for. 

Lots of homes in the Charlottesville, VA area use ductwork as a part of their HVAC system. It carries the conditioned air from your AC or heating system and disperses it throughout your home. If you have problems with your ductwork, it could lead to problems like: 

• Rooms that won’t get comfortable
• Higher energy bills
• Overworked HVAC system

In this article we will explore a few reasons you are having trouble with your ductwork, and what you can do to help fix the problem!

Your Ductwork Could Leak Air

One of the most common issues with ductwork is air leakage. Over time, ducts can develop gaps, holes, or become disconnected. When this happens, the air intended to heat or cool your home escapes into the walls, or areas like the attic or crawl spaces. This will hinder the delivery of air to certain rooms, and make the space uncomfortable. 

You can take a look at your ductwork that is exposed, and see if there are any gaps or cracks in the ducts. Sometimes you can seal them on your own using special tape or sealant. Have an expert take a look during a routine AC service. 

Your Ductwork May Be Improperly Designed or Mis-Sized

Properly designed and sized ductwork is important for ensuring the air is delivered properly and efficiently around your home. If your ducts are too large, the system may not generate enough pressure to distribute air effectively. 

Imagine you blow as hard as you can through a straw. The air will come out the other side with some force. Now if you do that with a paper towel roll, the same amount of air you are generating will not feel as impactful on the other end. The same concept applies here. Because the duct is too big, the air will not be forceful enough to get to every space in the house. 

Conversely, if they are too small, your HVAC system may not be able to pump enough air to make the difference it should in temperature. 

Improperly designed ductwork can also cause airflow issues. For example, sharp turns and long duct runs can impede airflow, making it difficult to maintain consistent temperatures in all rooms.

You Could Have Dirty Ducts

Over time, dust, dirt, pet dander, and other debris can accumulate in your ductwork. This buildup can reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system and negatively impact indoor air quality. Dirty ducts can restrict airflow, while also making the air in your home dirtier. This can be tough on people who have allergies or respiratory issues. 

Your Home May Not Be Properly Insulated

While insulation is often discussed in the context of walls and attics, ductwork insulation is also important! Ducts are generally pretty thin, and if they aren’t insulated, they could be losing energy in the process of delivering air. This will make your HVAC system work harder in order to compensate for the ductwork. 

A properly insulated duct system is going to: 

• Improve your comfort
• Reduce the workload on your HVAC system
• Improve energy efficiency

How You Can Maintain Your Ductwork

So now that you know about a few of the major issues, you should also know what you can do to help maintain your ductwork. Here are a few DIY tips, as well as some professional advice. 

Clean the Grates and Vents

One of the easiest tasks you can perform to maintain your ductwork is regularly cleaning the grates and vents. Dust and dirt can accumulate on these surfaces, and if there’s enough of it, it may restrict the airflow. Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove dust and debris from the vents and grates. 

Also make sure that your vents are clear from any furniture that may be blocking the air from coming out. You’d laugh if you saw how many homes we go to where a couch or a bookshelf was covering a vent.

Schedule Regular HVAC Service

You should have your air conditioner and heating system serviced at least once a year. During this visit a technician will tune the system up, and make sure that it is working properly. If you system is properly maintained and working just fine, but you are still having issues, you know the ductwork could be a problem. 

Have a professional inspect your ductwork and make sure everything is working properly and air is being delivered. 

Seal Your Ductwork

Sealing your ductwork is an effective way to prevent air leaks and improve system efficiency. A professional can use specialized materials like mastic sealant or metal tape to seal any gaps or holes in your ducts. If you feel confident in your ability to do this, you could probably make this happen too. 

You will want to make sure you have the proper materials and equipment to do the job. Having you ducts sealed is crucial to proper airflow and energy efficiency. 

Change Your Air Filter Regularly

Regularly changing your HVAC system’s air filter is another simple yet effective way to maintain your ductwork. If you have a dirty filter it’s going to do 2 things. For one, the airflow is going to be restricted, making it harder to keep the space comfortable. Secondly, it could lead to more dirt and debris getting into your ducts. This is going to hurt your indoor air quality and airflow!