The ductwork in a basement is often one of the most important parts of an HVAC system. This is especially true for single-story homes as, in most cases, all of the ductwork is mounted in the basement ceiling, and it supplies heating and cooling to both the basement and the main floor of the home. The typical lifespan for a duct system is somewhere around 20 to 30 years.
Air Ducts are made from galvanized sheet metal, which is fairly resistant to corrosion but will still start to degrade or deteriorate over time. This leads to older ducts often having lots of damage and spots where air can leak out, which can greatly reduce the effectiveness of the home’s heating and cooling leading to much higher energy bills. Replacing the old ductwork in your basement can provide many important benefits to your home, and this guide will show you what the benefits are and why they matter.
1. Improved Energy Efficiency and Lower Cooling and Heating Costs
According to the US Department of Energy, ductwork leaks account for as much as 20-30% of the total heating and cooling costs in the average home. In other words, 20-30% of the energy used by the HVAC system is wasted due to hot or cold air escaping the ducts. Still, the issue isn’t just about air leaking out of the ducts and making the HVAC system less effective so it needs to run more often and longer. It’s also the fact that basements are usually colder, and any gaps in the ductwork can also pull cold air in when the heating system is running. This results in the air blowing out of the vents not being as hot as it should, which again increases the workload on the furnace and heating system.
Replacing the ductwork in your basement is a fairly substantial investment that will typically cost a few thousand dollars. Nonetheless, it is definitely worth the cost as it could easily save you at least a few hundred dollars each year in energy costs by greatly increasing the efficiency of your home’s heating and cooling.
2. Increased Home Comfort
Replacing your ductwork can also make your home much more comfortable. If your old ducts are leaking and not properly sealed, much of the hot and cold air will escape before it reaches its intended destination. This is why many homes have issues with cold spots and hot spots in different rooms and at different times of the year. The more central parts of the home will usually still receive sufficient airflow, but very little air will flow out of the vents toward the ends of the different duct branches. This typically results in the rooms farthest away from the furnace and AC being much cooler than the rest of the building in winter and staying uncomfortably hot in the summer. Replacing your ductwork will eliminate these hot and cold spots so that the temperature in every room of the home stays consistent, and you stay more comfortable throughout the year.
3. Enhanced Indoor Air Quality
Replacing your ductwork is also an easy way to overcome air quality issues and keep the air in your home healthier. When a ductwork system has lots of leaks and the joints aren’t tightly sealed, lots of dust and debris will get pulled inside. When your air conditioning or heating runs, it will then spread dust and allergens around the house. This can be especially troublesome if anyone in your home has asthma, suffers from severe allergies or has any other respiratory issues. Even if you’re perfectly healthy, all the dust and debris that the HVAC system spreads will often lead to lots of coughing and sneezing. Replacing the ductwork will ensure that the system is tightly sealed so no dust can get inside and you can breathe easier. It will also help your home stay cleaner and less dusty for the same reason.
4. Decreased Risk of Pest Infestations and Mold Growth
Pests like mice and cockroaches are notorious for nesting inside air ducts. Cockroaches and other insects can get inside a duct system through the vents, but mice shouldn’t ever be able to get inside and start nesting if the ductwork is properly sealed and not damaged. Old ductwork is also much more attractive to pests as it tends to be full of lots of dust, lint and debris, which makes it a perfect nesting ground.
Another major issue with damaged and leaking air ducts is that it often allows condensation to form and moisture to build up inside the system. There is always warm air flowing through one part of the duct system when either your heating or air conditioning is running. In the winter, the warm air flows through the supply ductwork leading from the furnace to each room. In the summer, warm air is drawn in through the return ducts and then flows to the indoor AC unit. This combination of moisture and warm air inside the duct system is also a major issue as it can create an ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew.
Pests and mold can obviously be harmful to your family’s health and can greatly reduce the air quality in your home. Mice and other rodents can also carry dangerous pathogens and spread diseases, so it’s always important that you take whatever steps are necessary to prevent mold issues and pest infestations in your home. This is yet another area where replacing your ductwork can provide major benefits — by greatly decreasing the risk of pests and mold.
5. Quieter Cooling and Heating
Old, damaged and leaky ductwork will also often result in an HVAC making much more noise. When the ducts are leaking, the air rushing out of them will sometimes make a loud, annoying whistling noise. Loose ducts can also start vibrating and rattling whenever your heating or AC runs. As the ducts in a home deteriorate, they will often start to sag, and this again can result in the air making much more noise as it flows through the ducts.
All of the dust and debris inside the ducts due to leaks can also make the fan or HVAC blower much noisier. Dust will always collect on the blower assembly over time, making it more difficult for the blower to effectively move air through the HVAC system. This forces the blower to work harder and will often lead to it running more loudly than normal. Having your HVAC system serviced and cleaned twice a year is normally sufficient to prevent this problem. However, if your ducts have lots of leaks, the blower will collect dust much more quickly and make more noise. This issue also decreases the energy efficiency and effectiveness of the HVAC system since it prevents the blower from moving as much air through the system at a time.
The expert technicians at Dream Team Home Services specialize in ductwork installation and repairs, and we can inspect your home’s ductwork to determine if it needs to be replaced or resealed. We also offer professional duct cleaning services, which is a great way to improve air quality and can prevent many HVAC issues. For more information on the benefits of ductwork replacement or if you need any HVAC, plumbing or electrical services in Media, PA, and the surrounding area, give us a call today.
