Is Your Ductwork Costing You?
Is your heating bill too high? Is ductwork the issue?
As cold weather is upon us, one of the unfortunate effects is that utility costs increase. For some homeowners, this increase is drastic, whereas for others in similar homes, the increase is not as severe. While lifestyle plays into some of the price differentiation, a large part may be the result of poor ductwork. Let us investigate this issue for you, and provide some insight as to a few possible solutions that will keep more money in your pocket.
As the equipment has been developed over the years to be more efficient, the requirement of air movement has been increased to protect the thinner components. This results in trying to move more air through the existing duct space, which increases the pressure in the ductwork. This type of pressure is referred to as static pressure. Every manufacturer rates the performance of their equipment at a maximum external static pressure (ESP). Systems that have been changed over the last 10 years are being installed in situations where their ESP could be double, or even triple the manufacturer’s maximum. This results in higher operating power consumptions and lower airflow, which in turn wastes energy. The national average of delivered heat to a structure is just over 55%, which means that for every dollar you spend, forty-five cents is wasted through the delivery process.
Think of it this way, your blood pressure is supposed to be around 120/80; if it gets higher, your heart has a hard time pumping blood and health problems can be a result of that. The same thing occurs to mechanical components in your furnace, they are designed to operate at a certain pressure and anything above that level is detrimental to comfort, efficiency, and the unit’s longevity.
Sometimes, very simple changes can be made to correct the problem, and in turn can end up saving you money while increasing your comfort, and the longevity of your equipment. A few possible corrections are replacing a few vents, replacing a small section of ducting, or simply adjusting air settings.
The fact is, you would benefit from having your heating and cooling system checked by a contractor, trained to diagnose airflow and static issues. Reliable Comfort has air balancing and diagnostic skill certification, obtained from the.