How Can Duct Replacement Help My HVAC System?

Unless you have extensive experience in HVAC service and maintenance, it might be somewhat difficult to gauge the benefits of certain practices, such as duct replacement, and decide whether or not it’s worth it for you to proceed. This particular step in the routine maintenance of your HVAC system is very important and provides many benefits. Duct replacement can help your HVAC system in a lot of ways, each of which will be discussed here.

How Ducts Work and Why They Matter

The ductwork in your HVAC system plays a major part in the distribution of air throughout your space. Supply ducts, also known as heating and cooling ducts, allow conditioned air to travel from your HVAC system into your living space, maintaining a comfortable temperature based on the settings you choose on your thermostat.

Generally, one end of the duct will be attached to the HVAC unit, while the other ends reach each room that the HVAC unit is set to affect. Return air ducts then recirculate the air back toward the HVAC unit, where it is conditioned again to be released back into the given rooms by way of the supply ducts. This circular system allows the air to be treated with less energy, as it is easier to maintain the desired temperature once the air has already been conditioned. Hence the age-old trope of a father scolding his children for keeping the door open when the air conditioning is on.

So why do the ducts themselves matter? Ductwork is central to an HVAC system. Because of this, all the air that passes through your HVAC unit passes through your ducts as well. So any issues in your ductwork, whether major or minor, can cause problematic effects related to the air in your space.

The Negative Effects of Old or Poor Ducts

When your ducts are improperly set up, damaged, aging, or otherwise poorly maintained, the list of negative effects on you, your HVAC system, and the health and well-being of other occupants of the space can be a long one. Below is a list of potential issues that can be caused by old, damaged, or poorly maintained ductwork. Since HVAC ducts deal with recirculated air, these issues have a wide range of negative effects, many of which are crucial to the health and safety of the occupants, as well as your wallet!

The negative effects of poor ductwork can include:

  • General comfort
  • Respiratory health of occupants
  • Overuse of energy
  • Increased utility bills
  • Unnecessary and costly repairs
  • Mold and mildew
  • Increased indoor allergy symptoms
  • Stuffy or stale air in certain areas
  • General lack of functionality

Considering that most of the air in your space will interact with or be exposed to your HVAC system’s ducts, it is clear why poor ductwork can cause severe problems for you and any other occupants. For starters, with bad ductwork, you can expect to have a hard time getting the temperature to land where you want it to, no matter the season or the weather.

Poorly built, damaged, or aging ducts can easily leak air into unwanted areas of a building, such as the attic, crawlspace, or other unoccupied regions of the space. This can cause your HVAC system to require up to 40 percent more energy in order to do the same job and keep the temperature where you set it. This causes a number of issues, including higher costs on electricity and other utility bills, general discomfort for you and the other occupants due to an inability to easily set the desired temperature, and an increase in your environmental footprint. With everyone looking for any new way to lower their monthly bills, simply taking care of the ductwork in your HVAC system is an affordable, reliable way to get ahead of the game.

Plus, while the aforementioned issues are certainly annoying and undesirable, things can get even more serious when it comes to the effects of bad ductwork. Take, for example, the likelihood of mold forming. This, along with other likely problems, will increase the symptoms of those occupants who suffer from certain indoor allergies.

And whether you have allergies or not, these additional issues can eventually cause a wide range of health problems for anyone who spends time inside the space the HVAC system is treating. Air that is recirculated through poor air ducts can pick up bacteria, dust, or debris from the damaged areas, carrying these contaminants throughout the living space and potentially infecting those who reside or work within the building. Respiratory health issues, including the common cold and more serious viruses, can possibly be spread throughout the improper ducts, creating a health hazard for anyone inside.

Time to Call an Expert

While you may be tempted to take the problem into your own hands, it is highly advisable to call a professional when your ductwork is due for an upgrade. A licensed professional will have the equipment, skills, and know-how to perform a number of tests on your HVAC system and ductwork. These special tests will help the technician determine whether or not your system requires replacement ductwork, and to what degree the system needs to be updated.

Without performing these tests, fixing ductwork issues can be like taking a shot in the dark. It can be extremely difficult to determine exactly what is wrong and where the problem is within the system. For this reason, as well as your own safety, it is best to simply call a licensed professional to get the job done accurately and efficiently, saving you time, money, and stress in the long run.

Call in the Experts

Here in the lone star state, we know a thing or two about air conditioning. Our expert technicians at Custom Comfort Air can help you get your ductwork in order. AC installation, maintenance, and repair is the core of our specialty work.

But our services don’t stop there. Custom Comfort Air is happy to assist you throughout the winter and other seasons as well, with highly trained professionals who know everything there is to know about heating systems installation, maintenance, and repair. We even go one step further than many HVAC service companies by ensuring that our technicians also specialize in indoor air quality control.

We perform these services and precision tune-ups on HVAC systems all over Sugar Land, Texas, as well as the surrounding areas. Our widespread service range covers so many of the wonderful Texas towns we love, including Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, Richmond, Bellaire, Rosenberg, and the surrounding areas.

If you are having problems with your ductwork, don’t hesitate to handle it before it becomes a much bigger issue for you and everyone else who might become affected. Whether you need a repair and upgrade or you simply have questions about anything HVAC related, give Custom Comfort Air a call today! We will be happy to be of service.