Ductwork replacement is a fairly complex process that can be somewhat costly. Nonetheless, there will eventually come a time when it becomes necessary and is no longer something you can keep putting off. Leaky or poorly designed ductwork is a major issue in terms of HVAC efficiency and thus cooling and heating costs. This means that replacing the ductwork in your home can provide major benefits by keeping your energy bills lower and helping your HVAC system keep your home more comfortable. If you’re considering ductwork replacement, here is everything you need to know about the process.
Understanding the Process for Replacing a Home’s Ductwork
Ductwork replacement obviously involves first removing all of the existing ducts and then installing the new ones in their place. Before getting started, our HVAC contractor will need to evaluate your home, HVAC system, and existing ductwork. They’ll design and size the new ducts in a way that allows your heating and air conditioning to work effectively and as energy efficiently as possible. Ducts that are too small or too large or a ductwork system that has too many bends will create a variety of issues that greatly reduce the effectiveness of the HVAC system and lead to it using a lot of additional energy. As such, it’s essential that you choose an experienced HVAC contractor so that you can ensure your new duct system is designed and installed properly.
During the design process, a contractor will also determine what type of ducts will work best. Rigid sheet metal is the most common option for residential buildings, but there are also other options like fiberglass or fiberboard. Some homes may also require the use of flexible ductwork in some places where there isn’t sufficient space for rigid ducts.
Once the design process is complete, the next step is for our contractor to start building the different duct sections. Most of the ducts will normally be built in a shop, but some parts of the system, such as the air handler, will normally need to be built on-site.
After all of the ducts are built and ready to be installed, our HVAC technicians will start dismantling and removing all of the existing ducts. They will always try to do this in the least invasive way possible. Nonetheless, they will usually still need to cut holes in various walls and/or ceilings to access some of the ducts. This is especially the case when adding additional ducts and vents from what the original system had. Whenever any holes need to be cut in walls or ceilings to access the ducts, our team will first make sure to use plastic to cover and protect floors and furnishings to prevent them from getting dirty or damaged.
After all of the old ducts have been removed, our technicians will then begin installing, securing, and connecting each piece of the system. They’ll then use either foil tape or mastic to fully seal around the connections where each piece meets to ensure there are no leaks. They will also usually need to insulate at least some of the ducts, such as those in the attic or crawl space.
Once everything is in place and sealed, they will turn the heating or AC on to check for leaks and test that the HVAC system has the proper airflow it needs to work effectively. The last step is then to repair any holes in the sheetrock and paint everything so that it matches the rest of the wall or ceiling.
How Long Does Ductwork Replacement Usually Take?
For a full ductwork replacement, you can usually plan on the job taking at least one to two full days. However, the actual time scale for the project can vary quite a bit depending on the size of the home and the complexity of the ductwork system.
Accessibility is also a major factor in this regard. Ductwork replacement is usually quite a bit easier and takes less time if the home has either a crawl space foundation or a concrete slab foundation. This is because the majority of the ductwork will be in the crawl space underneath the floor or in the attic if the home has a slab foundation. If your home has a basement, the process will be slower and more invasive since all of the ducts that supply the ground floor are usually located in the basement ceiling. In terms of accessibility, the project will also go more smoothly if you move as many decorations and pieces of furniture out of the way so that our technicians have easy access to all of the ducts.
How to Know When Ductwork Replacement Is Necessary
Most experts recommend having the ductwork in a home completely replaced every 20 to 30 years. The main reason is that ducts tend to deteriorate over time and eventually develop holes where air can leak out. Leaks can also develop if any sections of the duct system are no longer properly secured. While having your ducts resealed is an easy way to overcome some issues, there will eventually be a time when resealing is essentially like trying to put a bandage over a gaping wound.
The best way to know when resealing or ductwork replacement is necessary is to have your duct system professionally inspected at least every few years. When determining whether repair or replacement is the best option, our technicians will take a few different factors into account, such as the number and size of any leaks in the system. Another important factor is whether the existing system was properly designed and installed and has a sufficient amount of vents to keep every part of the home warm or cool enough. If the system has lots of leaks or is poorly designed, replacing it will be much more cost-effective since new ductwork will help make your HVAC work far more efficiently.
Generally speaking, the best time to have your ductwork replaced is when replacing your heating or air conditioning system. There’s really not much point in spending money on a new furnace or AC if your ductwork system is inefficient or in poor condition. This is because any duct issues will always prevent the new unit from heating or cooling as effectively and working as efficiently as it should.
Another great time to replace your ductwork is when renovating your home. Similarly, you will also usually need to have new ductwork installed when putting an addition on your home. The reason in this case is that you will almost always need to increase the size of at least some of the ducts whenever increasing the square footage of your home.
Our Experts
If your ductwork needs to be replaced, you can count on the experts at Matheson Heating, Air, and Plumbing to get the job done right and in as timely a manner as possible. We have years of experience in ductwork design and sheet metal fabrication, and our team is also experienced in all types of heating and cooling installation, repairs, and maintenance services. To schedule a ductwork inspection or any HVAC or plumbing service in the Commerce area, contact our team today.