How Do Duct Leaks Impact Energy Efficiency in Homes?
For any household with a traditional HVAC setup, the air ducts play very important roles in heating, cooling, and indoor air quality. Whenever the furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner is running, that air is circulated through the ductwork to the different sections of the home.
The air ducts are the pathways for the hot and cool air, and when they’re clean and healthy, it helps keep the household comfortable and efficient. However, keeping your household ductwork in great condition is far from a given. It’s relatively common for air ducts to become leaky, clogged, or otherwise damaged. When these issues occur, they can have a variety of negative effects on the home. Here, we’ll take a closer
look at the relationship between household air ducts and energy efficiency.
Do Duct Leaks Waste Energy?
As household air ducts get older, the material they’re made from can begin to form cracks and gaps. Additionally, the seams of the ducts can start to expand. Once these openings have formed, they’ll only continue to grow larger. And the bigger they get, the more detrimental they can be to the energy efficiency, comfort, and overall functionality of the home.
When air ducts develop leaks, they’re no longer secure pathways for your heating and cooling systems to circulate air. Whenever the HVAC system is running, significant amounts of warm or cool air are escaping through the openings in the ductwork. So, a noticeable percentage of the air being distributed never reaches its destination. As a result, the HVAC unit must work harder to effectively do its job—otherwise, the house won’t be able to reach a comfortable temperature. When a household HVAC system has to regularly work harder, its energy usage tends to skyrocket. Ultimately, the home’s energy efficiency declines significantly, and the monthly electricity bills spike.
If leaky air ducts are allowed to linger for months or years, the impact they have on the home’s energy efficiency can stretch well into the future. For example, when an HVAC unit frequently has to compensate for air escaping through duct leaks, its equipment will accumulate more wear and tear. Eventually, that wear and tear can start to negatively affect the HVAC system’s efficiency and performance. So, even after the leaking air ducts have been repaired, the heating and cooling appliances will continue to struggle with energy efficiency. They’ll also be more prone to mechanical problems, which can be quite costly to have fixed.
Keeping Your Air Ducts Healthy
Any homeowner looking to keep their household at peak efficiency should be proactive about caring for their ductwork. Fortunately, there are several measures that can be taken to keep air ducts in good shape and functioning properly.
Duct Cleaning
One of the most prudent things you can do is to schedule a professional duct cleaning once every two or three years. Having this service carried out can benefit your home in several ways. When you hire ductwork professionals for a cleaning, they’ll clear out all the contaminants that have accumulated inside the ducts over time. This includes dust, dirt, mold spores, pest droppings, dander, and random debris. Removing these pollutants ensures that your HVAC system has clear pathways for circulating cool and warm air. As a result, the unit doesn’t need to work as hard to keep the home comfortable, allowing it to continually operate at peak efficiency and performance.
Another major benefit of professional duct cleaning is that it can often reveal air leaks and other ductwork problems. While cleaning the air ducts, the technician will have the chance to inspect them thoroughly and identify any cracks, gaps, or damage. If they find anything, it gives the homeowner the opportunity to have them repaired before they cause additional issues.
HVAC Inspections
Even if you think your home’s HVAC system is in excellent health, scheduling yearly HVAC inspections is always a prudent choice. During a professional inspection, licensed local technicians will visit your household and thoroughly examine every aspect of the HVAC setup. They’ll evaluate the overall condition and efficiency of the home, noting anything that could be improved or needs to be repaired or replaced. The healthier the HVAC system is as a whole, the more smoothly the air ducts will function. They’ll remain clean and be less likely to develop leaks.
For any homeowner in search of a comprehensive inspection, enlisting HVAC professionals to conduct a Manual J Report may be the best option. The Manual J protocol is used by HVAC experts to determine the total heating and cooling load of a household. To complete a home’s Manual J Report, a detailed inspection by knowledgeable technicians is necessary. The reports take things into account such as the number, size, and efficiency of the windows, amount of insulation, number of occupants, and amount of air that leaks from the air ducts. After having a Manual J Report conducted, you’ll have a ton of information on the energy efficiency of your home. You’ll also have a better understanding of how much electricity is needed to keep your living space comfortable year-round. If the Manual J inspection determines that your air ducts are leaky, you can then bring in ductwork professionals to find the leak locations and repair them.
The Bottom Line
Although many homeowners don’t realize it, maintaining healthy air ducts can contribute greatly to having an efficient and comfortable household. Having your ductwork cleaned, inspected, and, whenever necessary, repaired, will save you money and help keep your heating and cooling units running smoothly. If you’re concerned that your home’s ducts may be leaky, it may be worth scheduling an inspection or investing in a Manual J Report. And if you discover significant leaks, don’t hesitate to have them sealed. The money that will be saved through energy efficiency could very well make up for the cost of the service. Plus, the house will be more comfortable and filled with cleaner air.
