In most cases, homes in Florida are cooled via a series of ducts that circulate the air throughout different rooms. The design of these ducts can play a very important role in how efficient your HVAC system is overall. Though the following advice works best for those considering a new build, it can also be used for the purpose of refitting an existing building.
What Are the Objectives?
The first thing that must be considered is the proper distribution of air throughout your home so that comfort can be maintained and your HVAC unit is as economical as possible. When installing or retrofitting ducts, they should be properly sealed, have the right combination of supply and return flow, be insulated against the elements, be sized correctly, and have the capability to provide the amount of air that is necessary to keep the temperature throughout your home at an optimal setting.
What to Consider During Installation
When it comes time to install the new ductwork, there are several things that your contractor should be doing to make sure that all of the above goals will be met. First, the ductwork should be installed in areas of your home that are already heated or cooled. The ducts should be as short as possible to prevent energy loss, too. Finally, he or she should use the right size ductwork to meet the cooling needs of individual rooms or zones according to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America’s manual in sections D, J and S. This will provide the necessary parameters and dimensions.
Materials and Cost
These days, thanks to new technologies, there are several different types of ductwork and insulation from which you can choose. When it comes to this, however, you should remember that the cheapest options will often cost you more in the long run – particularly on your energy bills. You’ll also need to consider the materials based upon the area of your home in which the ducts will be installed; less insulation is needed when the ducts are installed in climate-controlled areas instead of in underfloor or attic spaces.
Save Money
The best thing about having your ductwork replaced is that when it is properly designed, you’ll be able to save money. First of all, your unit will be more efficient since it won’t have to work as hard to pump air into various zones of your home. Second, the air coming from your registers will be cooler once they are properly located and insulated. Finally, when the space between the blower and the register is shorter, the air has to travel less distance and picks up less heat on its way through the ducts as a result. All of these things will help you realize a very handsome return on your investment in these redesigned ducts over time.
There are lots of things that you can do to help improve the efficiency of your HVAC system and the overall level of comfort in your home, but if your ducts are not properly located, insulated or designed, then the other steps you take may not be as effective. Ensuring that your ducts are as updated as they should be will save you money in the future and even increase the longevity of your central air conditioning unit.
