How to Boost Your Home's Energy-Efficiency By Improving Your Ductwork

By increasing the efficiency in which your air ducts operate, you will be able to see big energy savings on your next utility bills. The following are some steps that you can take to increase the efficiency of your ducts:

1. Correct air leaks and reconnect loosened air ducts. Any sort of opening in your air ducts which enables tempered air to leak out will decrease the performance of your system as a whole. When conditioned air is lost through air leaks, or poorly attached air ducts, your heating system will have to consume more energy in order to replace that lost air. Leaky ducts can be sealed with caulking, or insulating material. Having said that, for the very best results, duct sealing ought to be done by an expert who knows what they're doing.

2. Properly insulate your ductwork. The air ducts in your home are more than likely crafted from thin metal materials. This thin metal is just not good for containing the conditioned air that goes through your air ducts in the unconditioned areas of your home (attic, crawlspace, etc.) and because of this you can lose between 10-30 percent of the energy used to heat up your household. To avoid these energy losses, you need to protect your ductwork with the right insulating materials. Typically, R-4 to R-8 insulation should do an excellent job of decreasing heat loss for ducts in unconditioned spaces. For cooler areas, use R-6 to R-11 insulation.

3. Make sure that the air ducts in your household are correctly sized to meet the needs of your heating equipment. The design of your ductwork is another essential aspect of improving the performance of your heating system. First, your air ducts have to be the correct size. The contractor who sets up your air ducts should follow the Manual J method and carry out a load calculation in your house, in order to identify the right size air ducts for your house. Also, a well-designed duct system will increase balanced airflow levels by having enough 'supply' and 'return' air registers.

If your air ducts in your house are in great condition, you'll be able to lessen heating costs and boost the comfort levels in your house. And don't forget, you may have the best heating equipment on the market, but if your ductwork is in bad condition, it won't matter. For more information on saving energy this winter, check out HVAC Talk Today, a blog dedicated to homeowners looking for assistance on all of their heating and air conditioning needs.