Ductwork

Posted by John Wells on 2:42 am. Filed under Heating & Air Conditioning, Photo Gallery Category. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

The ductwork of a house is something that most people take for granted. They simply expect that when they adjust the thermostat, hot or cold air will come out of the ducts and make the room much more pleasant. However, poor quality or poorly installed ducts can cost a fortune in heating costs. Improperly cared ducts may also serve as a convenient highway for rats, mice and other rodents. It is therefore important to make sure that the ductwork for one’s house is properly installed and is of good quality.

The most common problem in ductwork is that it was not properly lined up or installed or it has become loose over time. Home duct systems are a series of pipes that are intended to fit together tightly, but these connections will come undone over time if there is stress on the pipes or their supports begin to rust. The pipes may also begin to open up if they are struck or jostled during construction or repairs. Any holes or poor connections at the parts where ductwork tubes connect allows hot or cold air to escape into the areas between floors, which wastes energy. These holes also permit rodents and other undesirable invaders a place to live and a means by which they may get around inside a house quickly.

High quality ductwork using rustproof materials can last for decades, since it has little exposure to the elements or mechanical forces. The ducts should be made out of metal since metals such as aluminum and nickel are able to expand or contract with changing air temperatures instead of giving in to the stress. They need adequate supports and may need to be built into floors and walls to ensure they are protected from wear and tear. When properly installed, ducts need only to be examined every few years for leaks and holes, many of which can be patched using duct tape. For more information on heating and cooling in your home, check out the Heating and Air Guide.

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