How to Maximize the Efficiency of Your Air Ducts

When most people think of maximizing the efficiency of their HVAC systems, they think only of their actual air conditioner or heating units. But your air conditioner and heater are parts of an HVAC system – there are a lot of other parts that go along with them. In fact, it can be argued that the most important part of that system isn’t even the actual AC or heating unit – to maximize the efficiency of your HVAC system, you’ve got to maximize the efficiency of your ducts!

Making sure your ducts are clean — we’ve espoused the benefits of regular duct cleaning before, but to make sure they’re totally safe, you’ve got to be careful of what goes into them in the first place. Harmful fumes, such as those from paint, cleaning supplies, tobacco smoke and even cooking are some of the primary causes of poor indoor air quality. You can install an air purifier or an electronic air cleaner to keep most of these harmful fumes out of your HVAC system.

Make sure your air return ducts are functioning properly – air return ducts are the unsung heroes of your HVAC system, ensuring consistent, comfortable heating and air conditioning that improves ventilation, air quality and overall temperature inside your home. When your return air ducts aren’t functioning the way they are supposed to, it can cause your heater or air conditioner to have to work harder, increasing wear and tear on your equipment. If rooms with walls that face the outside of your house are a different temperature than rooms that are further in, have a professional come and check them out – there could be a problem with your return ducts.

Keep track of the other supporting players – to really maximize the efficiency of your ducts, make sure you team up an energy efficient air conditioner or heater and duct system with things like energy efficient windows, doors, attics, crawl spaces, basements, etc. Without proper joints and sealants, it doesn’t really matter how efficient your system is – you’re going to lose a lot of your conditioned air outside.

If you need duct cleaning or want a professional HVAC company to come out and see how you can maximize the efficiency of your ducts, call Davis AC today!