What are some of the issues that I should be aware of in duct design and maintenance?
Ducts that are improperly constructed, sealed, or installed can leak excessive amounts of air, provide poor air distribution, and can also “pipe” noise around the building. Additionally, ducts can become dirty if put into service before building construction is complete; there’s a lot of dust and dirt around most construction sites. What’s more, ducts in older buildings can become dirty after years in service, especially if filters are not changed on a regular service basis. Ducts play a key role in energy usage from both how much friction the fan “sees” as it moves air throughout the duct system to how well they distribute heating and cooling to keep occupants comfortable.
