Most Toronto area homeowners are aware of the importance of keeping their air ducts sealed and insulated to save energy. But did you also know that the physical ductwork design and installation play a similarly important role in your home’s energy equipment performance?

How do you know if you have a ductwork design and installation issue? Your ducts are located out of sight, so diagnosing problems can be difficult. Here are a few signs that could indicate an issue:

• Areas of the home are always humid or stuffy.
• Some areas are difficult to heat or cool.
• You have skyrocketing utility bills.
• Your HVAC system is new or renovated, but the ductwork is old.
• There are ducts in un-insulated areas like the attic or garage.

Proper ductwork design and installation should work with your HVAC system, circulating the precise levels of airflow that the system creates. Improperly-sized ducts may not be able to handle the amount of energy produced by the system, which can result in airflow issues and reduced efficiency. If your HVAC system is new but your ducts are not, this could create troubles.

Sheet metal is the most common material for air ducts, since it creates a smooth surface that facilitates airflow. It should be kept clean and smooth. The design should incorporate gentle curves as opposed to sharp angles, which can impede airflow by “wrinkling” it.

Correct ductwork design and installation should maintain a neutral pressure throughout the household with a system of supply and return air vents. If there aren’t return air grilles in every room, they should at least be in central areas of the house on each floor.

As the ducts branch off from the main core of the system into the house, they should get smaller. This helps to maintain static pressure. And since the airflow loses energy the further it travels from the system’s core, it needs to travel through a smaller space. This ensures that it does not become sluggish, maintaining pressure and circulation throughout the house.

If you suspect that your ductwork design and installation are causing airflow issues in your home, call Air Flex Heating & Cooling. We’ll be happy to help!

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Air Flex Ltd services the Greater Toronto area. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.