Get to Know Your Ducts and Save on Energy Bills
Everybody would like to save money on their heating and cooling expenses and there are some basic things you can do that you might not have thought of. Programmable thermostats are an eaan easy switch and replacing your air conditioner filter often to create less drag on your furnace or air conditioner are some apparent ways, but what about the details you can’t see-like ductwork? Your home’s duct system travels through every room in your house, but when was the last time you checked it? “What am I checking it for, specifically?” you say.
First, check to see if your duct system is insulated. Most duct systems are either inadequately insulated or not insulated at all. It’s especially crucial to insulate ducts in locations that are not temperature controlled like attics and crawl spaces. If you do not, your ductwork can transfer cold air from these places in the wintertime and hot air in the summer season triggering your furnace or air conditioner to work harder and resulting in higher utility bills.
Yet another thing to look for is leaks in your duct work. Ducts are commonly manufactured from sheet metal or sometimes fiberglass tunnels that are pieced together. Hot or cold air will be lost through the gaps where they are connected, minimizing the performance of your system. Unconditioned air can also be pulled into return air ducts through unsealed joints. Just like the un-insulated ductwork transferred heat or cold from the adjacent areas, leaky ducts leave behind hot or cold air in these areas wasting it.