When you have your HVAC system serviced, have your ductwork inspected at the same time. The ductwork in your home is an important part of your overall heating and air-conditioning system. Ductwork needs to be properly sealed to increase the efficiency of the system. All ductwork also should be checked for blockage and cleaned if required. Returns and supplies should be installed in the correct locations to help you maintain a comfortable environment.
The supply registers into rooms should be located on an exterior wall and under or over a window for maximum efficiency. Hot or cold air enters your home around window areas and then will be conditioned by the placement of the register. The air should then be circulated across the room before it is pulled into a return. Many older homes do not have supplies and returns in the optimal locations. Supplies that are located near the door into the room may never really provide the room with heated or cooled air efficiently.
Main returns should be positioned in central locations and not blocked by doors that could reduce the amount of airflow. Some homeowners may find it beneficial to have jumper ducts placed in each main room. If bedroom or office doors are closed tightly the air being supplied to the room will not circulate properly if it has nowhere to go.
There are options available for homeowners that wish to redo their heating and air ductwork for improved efficiency without having to have all of their ducts gutted and replaced. If supply vents are in locations that do not properly circulate air through rooms, one or two supplies can be moved. Another possibility is having a jumper return installed across the room from a register. If the register is near the door to a room, have a small return placed on the opposite wall. While this is not an ideal solution, it will improve the heating or cooling and make the room more comfortable year round.
Image credit: By Achim Hering (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl) or CC-BY-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Norwalk/La Mirada, CA 91766 | (562) 219-4085
