Ductwork is one of the most important, and most neglected, parts of you HVAC system. You home’s ducts are responsible for making centralized forced air heating and cooling possible in the first place. Despite their importance, however, ducts are often completely ignored when it comes to required maintenance. This is unfortunate, as keeping your ducts in good condition can actually save you quite a bit of money on your heating and electric bills. Want to know how? Read on to find out.
Common Duct Issues
Ducts have a couple of different issues with which they’re commonly afflicted. Dust, debris, moisture, and rust are all issues that affect the quality of your ducts. The biggest issue by far, however, is duct leaks. Ducts are actually quite vulnerable to leaks, despite their relatively passive role in heating and air conditioning. Improper installation often leaves gaps between the different sections of ductwork. Moisture or animal activity can create small holes through which air can escape. Even expanding and contracting from regular use can result in sections of the ductwork working themselves loose.
So, what’s the big deal? A few small leaks here and there hardly constitute an emergency, right? Actually, the US Department of Energy has estimated that the average forced air system loses as much as 30% of its output to duct leaks. That’s almost a third of your heating and air conditioning output that you’re still paying for, but which is lost before it ever reaches its destination. That loss forces your systems to stay on longer to accomplish the same temperatures, which contributes to a significant rise in your heating and electric bills.
How Duct Sealing can Help
Duct sealing is the process of finding and closing any leaks that may be present in your ductwork. By having an experienced professional seal your ducts for you, you’re drastically improving the efficiency of your heater and air conditioner. This is how you can substantially lower your heating and electric bills. If you haven’t had your ducts sealed in the past year or two, call Comfort Flow Heating. We provide duct sealing services throughout Salem, OR.
