ducts & vents

Homes with central heating and air-conditioning systems rely on ductwork to distribute warmed or cooled air throughout the house.

About Ducts

Today’s ductwork consists of insulated flexible tubes that snake across the attic floor or under the house. Unfortunately, heating ducts are out of sight and therefore out of mind and tend to be neglected when it comes to cleaning and repair.

 

 

Californians use on average 30 percent of their energy to heat and cool their homes; but even at that figure, consumers can cut their utility bills considerably by preventing waste. When it comes to the quality of home duct systems, the opportunities for improvement are substantial, and the rewards – in both comfort and reduced energy bills – can be great.

California’s Energy Efficiency Building Regulations now require ductwork to be insulated, minimum requirements call for R-4.2 insulation. As a result, energy savings can be startling – providing your duct system isn’t squandering the benefits.

 

common problems with ducts & vents

 

• leaks or blockages
• kinked lines
• poor system design
• poor insulation

 

DUCT problems

Homeowners wouldn’t put up with leaking water pipes. But ductwork – carrying air instead of water – can leak for years, without anyone knowing it. Ducts can leak for reasons as simple as a protruding nail in the attic that snags and tears the duct when it’s being installed. Then, too, joints and junctions where two pieces of duct come together may separate over time.

Problems also occur when ducts are blocked or kinked. Just as a pinched garden hose cuts down the flow of water, a kinked duct drastically reduces the flow of air. Kinking can happen when ducts are forced into tight places under the floor or in the attic. Make sure ducts are properly supported, don’t sag, twist or bend unnecessarily, and they have no gaps or breaks.

Design is important as well. Improperly designed systems may have ducts that are too small for the amount of air they are supposed to carry, or a duct that is too large in one room may siphon off conditioned air that should be going to another part of the house. The air conditioner or heater may be either undersized or too large for the duct system, providing too little or much more pressure than the system was designed to handle.

If its duct system is poorly designed or poorly installed, a house will waste energy, no matter how well insulated it may be, or how efficient its furnace and air conditioner are. That’s why it’s a good idea to have your duct system examined for leaks, blockages, and just poor design. You may be amazed at the monetary savings and the dramatic increase in comfort.

HERS: Stands for Home Energy Rater System which is state wide regulations governing 3rd party duct testing verifications.

CHEERS : Stands for California Home Energy Efficiency Rating Services which is a non-profit organization that is certified as a HERS provider in the state of California. Rater can be located by calling 1-800 4CHEERS or online at www.CHEERS.org