Why Ductwork Size Matters

HVAC contains more than your furnace and air conditioner. The V stands for ventilation, which is a critical part of your HVAC system, the one responsible for distributing conditioned air throughout your home.

Yet ductwork isn’t always in proper condition, and that can impact everything from how the air supply is delivered, to the health of your home.

To understand the role ductwork plays in HVAC efficiency, it’s important to understand how it all works.

Ductwork has two sides – the supply side, which carries freshly conditioned air to each individual room in your home, and the return side, which is responsible for drawing air back into the central unit.

If either side isn’t working properly, not only can it impact how warm or cool each room feels, but it also can impact the health and efficiency of your home as well.

When your ductwork was originally installed, many things could have gone wrong.

Ductwork controls airflow.

If ductwork is undersized, it restricts the amount of air the unit is able to draw in and push back through the supply side. This means the unit will have to work harder to get the job done, creating potentially more mechanical problems, which means you’ll pay more in repair bills. It also hampers efficiency, meaning you’ll see higher utility bills throughout the year.

If ductwork is oversized, it can reduce the air velocity, which in turn decreases the amount of air discharged into each room. That means you’ll have to run the entire system more to get the comfort levels you demand.

Whether you’re contemplating installing a new furnace or air conditioner, or are just looking for more comfort and efficiency throughout your home, assessing your ventilation system is equally important. Ductwork matters to create a comfortable home environment that doesn’t break the budget to keep your home heated and cooled.