Are your ducts the correct size?

If you are considering having a new HVAC system installed in your home, you must ask are your ducts the correct size! Without properly sized ducts, you could compromise your return on investment. WIthout adequate air flow and well-designed ducts that match your system, you could end up with significantly reduced home comfort and migh higher operating costs.

Sizing Method:

The industry standard for sizing ducts is call Manual D, a method developed by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and used across the HVAC industry. Manual D method includes the following:

• Evaluating air flow needs – Each room in your home requires a different amount of air flow, and a sizing calculation will ensure that the duct's design and materials can meet that need.
• Controlling noise factors – When air moves through the ducts, it can be noisy. Making adjustments to the ducts can help to reduce the noise, often by switching out ducts in lieu of more favorable, noise-reducing materials.
• Retrofitting the duct's design if necessary – With the right design, materials and air flow, your contractor, like the technicians here at LHT Cooling, Heating & Refrigeration, Inc., will ensure that your ductwork system delivers in terms of comfort and energy savings.
• Insulating where necessary – Ducts can also lose energy when portions of the system are installed in unconditioned areas of your home, like the attic. In these cases, ducts should be insulated to reduce losses from conduction.

Sizing ducts will also take into account the type of cooling system your home uses. Heat pumps produce a consistent, even air flow, and they often require larger ducts than a forced-air system. Forced air, central air conditioners operate by producing short by strong blasts of cooled air. If you're upgrading your existing AC system to a more efficient one, you may be able to install a smaller sized system. In both cases, sizing the ducts will ensure that they can handle the air flow and capacity of the newly installed system.

For the ultimate home comfort and energy savings, sizing ducts is imperative. Are your ducts the correct size, be sure to contact us here at LHT!