When it comes to caring for your home and your family, the last thing on your mind is probably the efficiency of your HVAC systems or your Royal Palm Beach, FL indoor air quality. However, you might be surprised to find just how much these two factors play a role to your home’s comfort and your family’s health.
And of all the components of your HVAC systems, your ductwork plays an integral role in just how efficiently and healthfully you are running your home. Damaged or improperly installed air ducts can cause air to leak into areas that aren’t meant to be conditioned, and can also cause contaminants and allergens to infiltrate your home.
So, Should I Upgrade My Ductwork?
There can certainly be times where a duct cleaning will suffice, in order to get rid of potentially harmful particles, and help your HVAC systems work more efficiently. In other instances, you may need professional duct sealing or duct repair to get your systems back in top working condition.
There are other situations, though, that you may in fact need to replace and upgrade your air ducts, particularly if they are aging. Old and worn air ducts can cause a number of issues in your home, including ineffective heating and cooling and, subsequently, energy inefficiency.
There are a number of signs to keep an eye and ear out for that could indicate your ducts are in poor condition:
- Uneven heating or cooling.
- Excessive dust and debris settling in your home, despite the use of air filtration or changing your air filter regularly.
- An onset of allergy and asthma symptoms; a sign that the air quality of your home has declined.
- Unexplained musty odors.
Degrading Ductwork and Your Energy Consumption
Duct systems can lose up to 40% of the heating or cooling energy put out by your HVAC systems—especially if they are damaged. Air can be escaping into unused spaces such as your attic or walls, leading you to crank your HVAC system up or down to get more conditioned air, while sacrificing your wallet.
Ductwork and Your Comfort
Air leaks can and do lead to uneven heating or cooling in your home. No matter what temperature your thermostat is set to, this is going to have a serious negative impact on the comfort of your home and your family.
Consider Your Health
Air leaks in the duct system may contain particles such as pollen and dust, which can enter your indoor air and aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms. In addition, you can be exposed to household fumes, insulation particles, and mold. There is no reason to take this risk—if your ductwork is at the point that no amount of professional repairs or duct sealing will help them, then it’s time to consider duct replacement.
Are You Upgrading Your HVAC System?
Are you replacing an old central air conditioner or furnace in place of a higher-efficiency system? If so, this is a great time to upgrade your ductwork as well. If your ducts truly are losing 40% of the energy they are meant to provide, then adding a high-efficiency HVAC system won’t actually do you much good at all.
Envirotech Air Quality Services offers superior ductwork services and other indoor air quality services throughout the West Palm Beach area. Contact us today!
