Everyone wants to save money on energy bills wherever they can. As it turns out, there are plenty of ways to cut costs here and there, and your HVAC unit is a great example! Your air ducts could be the cause of large invoices for your energy company, but there are ways to minimize that. Here are some professional tips to help you save money on your energy bills and get full use out of your HVAC system!
Minimizing Energy Loss in Ducts
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Minimizing Energy Loss in Ducts
Seal Leaks
Your air duct system might have leaks, which can be easy to miss if you aren’t paying close attention. Over time, the seal can expand or become loose, which can lead to holes or patches where your air duct meets the wall. The best way to seal up your air duct leaks is with duct sealants like mastic, butyl tape, aluminum foil tape, or other heat-approved tapes.
Insulate the Ducts
If your ducts pass through an unheated or cooled portion of the building, ambient temperatures are going to affect the air inside the ducts. You can minimize this problem by either insulating the entire space the ducts pass through or by insulating the duct itself. Insulating sleeves made of foam, bubble wrap, or fiberglass are popular and effective options that are simple to install.
Reroute the Ducts
The air passing through your ducts will be affected by drag to some extent, and this can contribute to energy loss. You can reduce the type of loss in several ways, including:
- Smoothing interior duct surfaces to reduce friction
- Reduce the length of duct segments
- Reduce the velocity of air flowing through the ducts
- Increase duct diameter
- Reduce the number of bends in ductwork
- Reduce sharpness of bends
- Installing an air filter that is deeply corrugated for less airflow resistance
Reconstruct Air Ducts
The most expensive option, but not the most irrational, would be to reconstruct the air duct system entirely, which may be necessary if there are loose connections or cracks and holes. If it’s actually your air duct system that is causing the high energy bills, a reconstruct could be necessary. You should really only consider reconstructing your air ducts after you’ve had an expert take a look and assess your issues.
The simplest way to ensure that your ducts function properly and distribute air equally around your space is to have them professionally fabricated by experts who know what they are doing. The team at MetalMarketz is exceptional at fabricating ductwork to optimize your HVAC system. Give us a call today to learn more.