Your air ducts are essential for your HVAC system’s performance as well as your comfort. That’s why the best HVAC system in the world cannot overcome problems with poor ductwork design and installation.
The ideal efficiency for your ductwork is upwards of 80 percent. If your ductwork design and installation was done improperly though, you might only be achieving 60 percent. The efficiency of your system directly impacts your energy bill, so if you have inefficient ventilation, you could be spending much more than you need to for your heating or cooling costs each month.
Properly designed ductwork should:
- Provide conditioned air to meet temperature needs in all rooms
- Be properly sized to meet manufacturer specifications for pressure drop across the air handler
- Be sealed to prevent polluted air entering the system and to provide proper airflow
- Provide a neutral pressure to the house by having a balance between supply and return airflow
- Keep temperature fluctuation in the ductwork minimal
A good HVAC contractor will provide ductwork design and installation that meets all the above specifications. You will have properly sized ducts, as well as a layout conducive to regulating your optimal temperature. The contractor should take both supply and return ductwork into account.
Even if your existing ductwork was designed properly, you could still have problems that create a less efficient air delivery system. These problems normally arise in the form of leakage or poor insulation. It is key that when new ductwork is installed, it is completely sealed to prevent leakage. New homes will have satisfactory insulation to begin with, but if your home has been around for more than a few decades, it is possible that the insulation around your ductwork has deteriorated and is no longer performing adequately.
Whether you are building a new home and want to make sure your ductwork design and installation is done right the first time, or you have an existing home that you feel would benefit from an upgrade to the ductwork, we can help! Contact us at Arpi’s Industries today. We have been proudly serving the Calgary area for more than 50 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Calgary, Alberta about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ductwork and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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