24 Sep Upgrading an HVAC System
The shock of increasing utilities costs may have you thinking about upgrading your HVAC system … and also rightly so, because there is no possibility the gas prices are most likely to drop.
The more recent heating as well as air conditioning unit systems are much more efficient than older devices and also offer substantial long-lasting energy savings. The Government has actually mandated that any cooling unit should have a SEER rating of a minimum of 13 starting in 2006 and also this is great, since a twenty-year system may have a SEER score of only 7 or 8. Nevertheless, genuine cost savings you should consider your whole home as a power eating beast that needs to be placed on a diet plan. This consists of repairing air dripping doors and windows seals
It does little excellent to replace an older HVAC system as well as expect great decrease in utility costs, if you do not take care of the locations where you are losing power. New HVAC systems are expensive, and the temptation may be to just mount a new high efficiency furnace and air-conditioning system as well as hope for the most effective. The truth is, the reduction in energy bills may be frustrating due to the fact that you may have overlooked a significant gamer in the entire HVAC system … like the ductwork.
A badly made, leaking and under protected ductwork system can waste 30 percent or more of the money you pay to run your heating and air conditioning system and squash any type of gain you could realize by installing a new high efficiency system. Many air duct systems are poorly shielded as well as leak conditioned air into un-conditioned attics and also crawl rooms. I generally discover separated ductwork during my residence inspections.
When air ducts leak, conditioned air can be displaced and lost through unsealed joints. In enhancement, also un-conditioned air can additionally be attracted into return air ducts through unsealed joints. Attic temperature can be very high in the summer season and cold in the winter … so, any type of attic room air that enters your system through un-sealed air duct joints will need to be cooled in the summertime and also heated up in the winter season, this enhances the load on your system and also increases your energy bill.
Surprisingly an older residence might have a much far better made duct system than a new home as well as may just need a leak check and insulation upgrade. Newer residences on the other hand may be victim of price reducing actions and improperly developed air duct systems.
Using flex air duct has actually grown in popularity because ease of installation as well as the high cost of store made sheet metal ducts.
Flex ducts also installed appropriately are an inadequate alternative for well-designed effectively protected sheet metal air ducts. It is common practice to make plenums and coil boxes out of taped together duct board.
Be certain to include an assessment of your ductwork system in your plans to upgrade your HVAC system. There is no use in exhausting valuable conditioned air to the outdoors via leaks and worn-out duct insulation. If your air duct system needs an overhaul, you may intend to consider a high velocity delivery system that uses smaller PVC pipeline air ducts. These high-speed systems are much easier to mount as well as shield. The bottom line on a HVAC system upgrade for maximum efficiency have to include more than simply the new tools.
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