Air Ducts In Attic Problems

Below are some commons signs of poorly installed ductwork.

Air ducts in attic problems.

Use metal flex or fiber board ducts that are insulated to. First water dripping off of your ducts and onto your insulation can cause the insulation to compress which decreases it s r value or ability to insulate. However many modern residential air duct systems are constructed of fiber glass duct board or sheet metal ducts that are lined on the inside with fiber glass duct liner. Why is this a problem.

Since the early 1970 s a significant increase in the use of flexible duct which generally is internally lined with plastic or some other type of material has occurred. Why is condensation on ductwork a problem. These restrictions in airflow cause your system to work harder to move air. If you have insulated flexible ductwork check to make sure that is not kinked crushed torn or twisted.

When hvac ducts are installed in a vented attic in a dry climate bury the ducts in attic insulation to protect them from temperature extremes in the unconditioned attic space. So water is condensing on your ac ducts. Twisted kinked crushed or torn insulated flexible plastic air ducts. Throw duct leakage into the mix and the problems are even worse.

The air moving through those ducts in the attic doesn t have anywhere near the temperature difference that heating or air conditioning ducts have. Contact a qualified hvac company to fix any of the following duct problems. Install ductwork so that it is in direct contact with i e laying on the ceiling and or truss lower cords. First the delta t across the exhaust duct doesn t matter because you re getting rid of that air.

According to energy star about 20 of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks holes and poorly connected ducts ductwork leaks cause your hvac system to work harder. Diagnose cure hvac duct problems like weak air flow leaks noises condensation. In last week s blog i discussed the practice of burying attic ducts in deep insulation since burying ducts is simply one of several ways to address the energy waste associated with the decision to locate ducts in a vented unconditioned attic it s worth taking a fresh look at all of the possible solutions to the attic duct problem. Shawn an erv isn t the same as a heating or cooling system.

Fibers may also work their way into closed system air handlers or ducts landing along duct work or circulating into the air in the rest of the house. If not enough cool air is provided by your air conditioner or if the air temperature is not cool enough or if you just can t get your a c unit running this article helps diagnose and correct the problem with step by step things to check and links to more detailed explanation when you need it.