Ductwork Design That Gets Results

Proper ductwork design is vital to efficient heating and cooling, as well as the function and efficiency of your heating and cooling unit. If you’re designing construction for a new home or room addition, or simply want to upgrade your current duct system, follow these tips to ensure energy savings and supreme home comfort year after year:

Designed for efficiency
Ductwork sizing and installation play key roles for optimal efficiency. Ducts should be sized to match the heating and cooling unit, and to each room’s design, location, sun/shade orientation, windows and square footage. Ducts should decrease in size the farther they extend from the air handler. The path from air handler to air-supply registers should be as short and straight as possible, avoiding unconditioned areas of your home.

Designed for comfort
Air circulation should be balanced and even throughout your home. Return grilles should be on each level of the home, preferably in each room with an air-supply register. Jumper ducts and transfer grilles aid in circulation, especially if there are rooms with doors closed for privacy or other reasons. Balanced air pressure will prevent too much pressure drop at the air handler, and it prevents forced air exchange between indoor and outdoor air.

Designed to last
The typical home wastes around 20 percent of conditioned air before it ever reaches the living space, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE also states that as much as 60 percent of heated air is wasted if it travels in uninsulated ducts located in unconditioned areas of a home.

With this in mind, sealing and insulating ducts is obviously a top priority. All duct connections should be tightly sealed. Use mastic and fiberglass mesh, or perhaps aluminum tape. Do not use duct tape. If ducts must be run through unconditioned areas of your home, make sure that they are properly insulated.

For more information about ductwork design and all other home-comfort questions, contact the experts at Comfort Services today. Our goal is always to exceed your expectations. We’ve served South Carolina's Midlands since 1976.