Investing in a new air conditioning system is an expensive, involved process. It would really be a shame to make that investment only to have it be useless. Unfortunately, this is likely the case if your home’s ductwork is not appropriate for modern AC. Modern, high-efficiency AC units need a functional, efficient delivery system. If the AC is the heart, the ductwork acts as the veins carrying the blood.
At White Mechanical, Inc., we’re a trusted HVAC service provider in Foothill Ranch, CA, and the surrounding Orange County area. We know all about air distribution and what it takes to facilitate home comfort. If your ductwork is poorly designed, a new AC may be a waste. Learn why below.
Restricted Airflow and Static Pressure Issues
One of the most common problems with poorly designed ductwork is inadequate sizing. Older homes were generally built with heating in mind. Homes were cooled with open windows or window ACs. Cool air is denser and harder to move than warmer air, creating a struggle inside smaller, narrower ducts. The ductwork inside older homes often cannot handle the airflow requirements of a modern AC system. These units move a lot of air, resulting in high static pressure and forcing the compressor and blower motor to work harder. What started as a new AC unit can quickly wear down and quit working.
Another issue is that the home barely cools down, despite the unit working incredibly hard, due to incorrect pressure and insufficient airflow. The system may dump some cool air into rooms nearest the unit. However, rooms that are farther away will often receive no air at all. This ends up as a wasted investment in your AC unless you replace your ductwork.
Reduced Energy Efficiency and Higher Bills
Modern air conditioners feature SEER2 efficiency ratings. You’re paying a larger price for a unit that theoretically saves you money in the long run. The higher the rating, the less electricity it uses to create cool air. However, you should understand that these ratings rely on ideal running conditions. If you have poor ductwork in the home, those ratings do not mean much at all. Your duct system must match your AC ideally. This is an issue that goes beyond narrow ducts. If your system has longer runs, sharper turns, or uneven branches, they can hinder function and lower efficiency.
The system has to run longer to compensate for poor air distribution. Because of this, your energy bills will remain high despite the efficient unit. What would take an AC 15 minutes to cool down with proper ductwork becomes 30 minutes or longer. Running twice as long is twice the price, of course. Properly sized and routed ducts will help to realize the full benefits of a modern AC.
Uneven Cooling and Hot Spots
Another negative issue with improper ducts is uneven cooling. The living room is hot while the kitchen is cool. The cold air isn’t reaching all your rooms. This can be due to dirty registers, clogged ducts, or gaps, but poor duct design is a common factor, which is why you should have your ductwork checked before you invest in a new AC.
Proper, modern ductwork uses dampers and various pipes to ensure rooms are equally conditioned. Professionals measure this through “Cubic Feet per Minute” (CFM) of air. Before your AC installation, we first check to ensure your ductwork can handle the task. We must correct design flaws and other issues that could affect your ability to enjoy cool, conditioned air in every room of your home.
Increased Wear and Tear on New Components
An air conditioning system is designed to run in specific cycles. Poorly designed ductwork can cause the system to kick on and cut off frequently, known as short cycling. It could also cause your AC to run continuously, putting excessive strain on your system. Especially with short cycling, the process of kicking on repeatedly is tough on the unit, taxing the compressor and other components. This behavior often causes complete breakdowns.
Poor design often leads to moisture issues. Weaker airflow can cause the evaporator coil to freeze up. This is when a literal block of ice forms inside your unit, which can harm your AC as well as your home when it melts, leading to mold, mildew, rot, and leaks. Your AC needs ample airflow to function correctly.
Poor Indoor Air Quality and Dust Accumulation
A lot of older ductwork is designed like a crazy racetrack. It bends, twists up and down, and gets narrower in some spots. This creates an environment where dust and debris settle into the ducts. Undersized ducts can also pull air through small cracks and gaps. This air is coming from your attic, which means it’s full of dust, insulation fibers and all types of pollutants. This is really bad for your indoor air quality. It’s also bad for your unit, once the returns send that dirty air back. Filters clog up and force the machine to work harder.
Humidity problems can also arise from poor ductwork. An AC that cannot move the air or remove the humidity leaves your home too moist. In the summer, this causes a clammy, sticky feeling. Even when it’s 68 degrees Fahrenheit inside, the humidity can make it feel like 80. This is another reason why it’s important to call in White Mechanical, Inc. to look at your duct system. We can perform air duct cleaning in general for dirty ducts.
Maximizing Your Investment With Professional Care
The best thing you can do to ensure your new AC works properly is to let us handle the job. As a professional, reliable HVAC contractor, we look at your ducts when we assess the home. We avoid the shady “box swap” method, where we just replace the old with the new. Instead, we use precise measurements, load calculations, and efficiency ratings. Your home has to be ready for an upgrade before the upgrade can be made. Maybe you need a few modifications; maybe you have to replace the network. The idea is that your ductwork has to support the new unit.
We also highly recommend that homeowners look into a maintenance agreement with us. This is the best way to keep your new system in shape. We will perform routine maintenance and tune-ups on your AC unit. We address small issues before they become large problems. Maintenance is more convenient and affordable than serious repairs.
At White Mechanical, Inc., we are proud to serve the Foothill Ranch community of Orange County with comprehensive cooling and heating solutions. We offer a lot more than a ductwork inspection for a new AC. We handle maintenance, repairs, and replacement for a range of solutions. We work on HVACs, heat pumps, mini-splits, and more. Our services also include indoor air quality solutions like humidification systems. For urgent issues, we offer 24/7 emergency services for your home or business.
For more information about ductwork and your new AC, contact White Mechanical, Inc. today.
