As Florida natives, we are all well accustomed to the high heats of summer. While the temperatures keep rising, so do our energy bills while we are trying to cool down our home. If your AC ductwork is old or installed incorrectly, you could be spending much more than you have to. Your air conditioning unit could be exerting unnecessary force on your ducts and inefficiently keeping your house at cool levels. We have compiled seven reasons why you should replace your ducts this summer, so check them out below.
One of the biggest reasons to replace your ductwork this summer is to improve your air quality. Dirty air full of bacteria, dead skin particles, and harmful materials are sucked into your ductwork daily as it runs through unconditioned parts of the house like crawl spaces, attics, and wall cavities. Due to negative pressure in the ducts, that dirty air can infiltrate with the conditioned air, and ultimately, make way into the air that you breathe. This dirty air can recirculate back to the HVAC, increasing the workload for your unit’s filter. Having your ducts replaced and even cleaned, will improve the air quality for you and your family, leaving your house a safe and comfortable environment for the summer months.
By replacing your system in the summer, you have the ability to control how comfortable you will be this summer and have extra money in your pockets. Donovan AC has experts to help you reduce your monthly costs by investing in new ductwork. We know that these purchases can be hefty, and we want to put forth the best work and options available for you to avoid spending money on subpar air-conditioning units and ducts.
When did you purchase your air conditioning unit? How old is it? When was the last time you had it inspected? These are all questions to ask yourself since, more often than not, your system is outdated. Since the time it was installed, there has been substantial improvements in technology for HVAC systems like universal controls, communications, programmable thermostats and a decrease in noise pollution from your unit. These features definitely increase your comfort and reduce energy costs since these options were not available within the last two decades. With the help of our licensed technicians, we can make sure that you get what you want in terms of price, schedule, and even offer financing options for those who qualify.
Some air conditioning units work on a dual system that doubles as a heat pump in the winter. If that is your case, you should absolutely get your system checked out in the summer, so you can be prepared for both of the more extreme seasons. Although Florida doesn’t receive cool temperatures anywhere near the north, it is still important to have your system working at optimum levels. If you are having doubts about the effectiveness of your AC now during these summer months, then it will be working just as inefficiently when using the auxiliary resistance heaters to stay warm. As most of these units come with backup heaters, it is impossible to know if they are working correctly until you receive your first heating bill.
Once you have one of our technicians come check out your unit and duct flow, you should have them run a few calculations on both the cooling requirements, ductwork, and airflow. A lot has changed since you first installed your unit, so it is so important to take time to re-evaluate if your home is receiving the correct airflow. Changes to your home like added insulation, upgraded windows, new rooms, and removed walls can all decrease the efficiency of your unit, since maybe you need a new size to accommodate the space. Your AC could be working on overtime trying to keep the house cool when there are factors that were not present during the original installation.
There is a common misconception that bigger ducts translate into more airflow, but that is not necessarily the case. While it is true that your ducts may be larger and capable of handling more air, that doesn’t mean that your HVAC system can pump more air than how it is performing currently. Your air conditioning unit relies on a certain amount of air pressure that comes from a careful calculation of your duct network, so that it can evenly spread the cool air in every corner of your house. With additions, like the ones mentioned above, it could change the flow of the original installation and ultimately create uneven pressure. If your ducts are too large for the pressure that your HVAC system is exerting, it can cause major energy waste. Your system will run for longer periods of time and have a higher chance of needing replacement much quicker than it should.
One of the biggest problems with leaky ducts is that your indoor air will feel much more humid than it should and make you feel uncomfortable in your home. When the humid and moist Florida air is drawn into the ducts from unconditioned areas of your home, it can infiltrate your conditioned air. This makes your unit pump much harder to dehumidify the air and overwork the cooling process, overall contributing to poor indoor air quality. You can also recognize if there is a leak in your ductwork if you have been inside of a room and not felt the flow of air-conditioning when you are sure it is on. If other parts of the house feels colder, then your system isn’t working to its maximum potential.
Donovan Air, Electric & Plumbing wants you to feel comfortable in your home this summer and encourages you to reach out to us for a duct replacement! Call us now for a free consultation!