The air ducts in your home are crucial to the efficiency of your HVAC system as well as the comfort and air quality of your home. Sadly, we often don’t think about them because they are usually hidden between walls, in your attic or in your basement. Below you’ll find some important tips regarding the proper care and maintenance of your air ducts.

Proper Insulation

In many homes with an HVAC system, the attic is where the greatest amount of ductwork exists. While this is excellent because it keeps things out of site, the attic is a hostile environment for heating and cooling efficiency.

Attics typically experience extremes in both heat and cold depending on the season. In extremely cold weather, poorly insulated ducts will reduce the temperature of the warm air, causing your furnace to work harder to heat your home. In the summer the opposite is true, and the cool air inside the ducts will rise in temperature before reaching the living spaces of your home.

Always make sure the ducts in your attic are properly sealed and insulated to ensure maximum efficiency and comfort. If you’re not sure what to do, call a trusted HVAC professional for evaluation and repair.

Repair Damaged Air Ducts

Damaged air ducts can cause numerous heating and cooling problems. From reduced airflow, to inefficient heating and cooling, damaged ducts can have a negative effect on both your energy bills and your home’s comfort. The most common types of damage are holes, leaky/poorly sealing joints and clogged vents.

Homeowners should be vigilant about keeping floor registers and the area around them clean, replacing air filters regularly and avoiding obstruction of all vents and returns. The best way to track down an air duct problem is to have an HVAC profession perform a thorough evaluation of your heating and cooling system.

With just a little vigilance and care you can spot, fix and repair air duct problems relatively easy — even if you have to spend money on professional repairs, they will pay for themselves in the long run.

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