Ductwork consists of a system of pipes that distributes air from the heating, air conditioning and ventilation equipment throughout the rooms of the home.
When the duct system is maintained in good working order, the home is more comfortable, healthier and stays cleaner.
The heating/cooling system operates more effectively, efficiently and reliably. The majority of homeowners overlook the importance of the ducts. In most homes, leaky ducts are a problem. Because the pipes are almost entirely concealed behind walls and in crawl spaces, they are easy to ignore. Gaps, cracks and leaks at the seams allow conditioned air to escape before reaching the intended destination. In the average home, approximately 10 to 30% of heated and cooled air is lost. There are three types of duct leaks. Supply leaks are when the air provided by the furnace or air conditioner is wasted. Equipment leakage is when components such as the coils or cabinets have seams with either blow or pull in air. When these seams aren’t properly sealed, they negatively impact airflow. The third type is return leakage. This is when ducts in the attics and wall cavities suck unconditioned air into the ventilation system and carry it back to the furnace or air conditioner. All three of these issues lead to contaminated air quality, needless energy waste, higher running costs and added wear and tear on the whole system. Professional duct system performance testing determines if there are leaks and how severe. Most HVAC contractors provide duct sealing, utilizing specialized tools and processes to access the entirety of the system and resolve concerns without causing damage.