- The most important thing to consider is the age of your Mechanical ventilation system, the system is over 15 years old then ,it definitely might have some complications that might need repair or replacement. An old machinery or electrical equipment is bound to wear and tear and several parts of the system might be deteriorated and may not be able to work with the same efficiency.
- The air flowing inside and also the air being pulled by the fans is very less and unbalanced. This might be due to clogged,dirty or old and damaged ducts that might reduce the airflow and create a friction in the air velocity. This might cause the system to work more to pull and push the air and more heat energy will be generated. Not only is it bad for the indoor temperature but it is also heavy on the electricity bills.
- Ducts might develop dents or holes and gaps over time leading to leakage of air from the ducts. If your Ventilation system has trouble staying consistent with the temperature or there is an imbalance of air flow, then it might be possible that the air leaks out of these gaps or there is reduced air flow.
- Development of molds overtime can also lead to poor duct functioning. If not treated the molds, bacteria or grime accumulation then the duct material might become degraded and will need replacement. These molds will affect the air quality and can affect your health,also causing allergies.
Though you might not need a complete replacement of the duct system,only a few ducts need to be replaced,but this can significantly affect the quality and working of the ventilation system.
You might even consider replacing your duct system, if it has not been installed carefully in the first place with accurate calculations and design. It’s important that you hire a trusted and experienced company to handle this work, so that you don’t have any issues with the system later.
Things to consider before replacing the duct system:
Configuration: For the configuration of the ducts always consult a professional and make sure to plan out the whole design and calculations related to the system.
Size: The duct size should be made in accordance with the design of the house or building. If the air is to be transferred to a lot of rooms and areas a large duct is preferred and small duct sizes are preferred for smaller areas. Not having the perfect size can lead to either poor air flow or excess flow leading to loss of energy as well as money.
Location: Ducts should always be installed in the conditioned envelope of the building . Ducts should not be installed in places like crawl space or the attic as they cannot receive the heated or cold air and a large amount of energy will be lost.
Insulation and Sealing of duct: The ducts need to be fitted properly and tightly so as to avoid air leaks. The turns and joints should be properly sealed with mastic sealant or metal tape and there should be no gaps. Insulation of the ducts should not be ignored as you could be saving about 30% energy from the system. Insulating the ducts will also keep the temperature drops and condensation in control along with reducing the energy uptake.
