When thinking about their heating and cooling systems, people often forget a very important part - their ductwork! 

Whether hidden in your crawlspace or up in the attic, it is essential to your home comfort. In this article, you’ll learn why ductwork is so significant, when to schedule a duct evaluation and what is checked during a duct evaluation. 

Your heat pump works hard year-round to keep your home comfortable, but there can be hidden problems lurking. If your ductwork is old and leaking out the conditioned air, this situation should be addressed. If it isn’t, your system will have to work harder to make up for that “lost” air. This can cause unwanted wear on your system, as well as increased energy bills. Also, these holes can let dirt and debris enter your system, causing air quality issues.    

Another problem that could affect the comfort of your home is an improper ductwork design and/or installation. Your heat pump could be the best there is but when paired with bad ductwork, you’ll never obtain its benefits. If you have rooms that are always hot (or cold), this is most likely a duct design issue.   

When do you need a duct evaluation? The lifespan of ductwork will vary based on the material used and many other elements. If you’re considering replacing your HVAC system it’s usually a good idea to have your ductwork evaluated at the same time.  Why spend all that money on a new system if it is attached to a bad duct system? 
If your system is newer but you’re still experiencing hot or cold rooms, or are having air quality issues or extremely high energy bills, then a duct evaluation might be needed.                     

What is a duct evaluation? This is when one of our comfort specialists will come to your home to evaluate your current ductwork. They will perform a load calculation to see how much tonnage of heating and cooling your system requires.

From there, they can tell if your current ductwork is able to handle the amount of conditioned air. They will look at the duct insulation and the overall condition. If there are many spots that are leaking, they can either repair it or replace it, depending on the age and severity of leaks.  If it is improperly designed, replacement is most often the only option.

O’Brien Service Company offers complimentary in-home duct evaluations. So, if think your home is in need a duct evaluation don’t hesitate to call! Our comfort specialists can give you a professional opinion on whether a duct repair or duct replacement would work best.  Pricing will vary based on the work that is needed.
We can perform everything from light repairs to complete ductwork replacement, so be sure to call the pros at O’Brien.    

O’Brien Service Company is a certified Trane Comfort Specialist and works on both residential and commercial systems. The company’s highly trained and versatile technicians can expertly handle complex repairs and installations, and provide advice on the benefits of regular maintenance. To arrange a free at-home consultation, call (910) 799-6611, or visit the company’s website at www.obrienservice.com.