Furnaces are “forced-air” heating systems, which means they heat the air in your home and force it through air ducts to reach the living spaces. This is different from a radiant heating system, which radiates heat from radiators, baseboard heaters, or lines running under floorboards. Forced-air heating systems are often more affordable and more common because of just how easy it is to heat the air in a home.
However, it’s important to remember if you’re a furnace owner in Greenwich, Hainesport, or Evesham, that forced-air heating relies on complex systems of air ducts in order to work properly. These involve ducts to transport air through the home, as well as a port exhaust duct system to transport fumes and other harmful contaminants out of your house so that you’re kept safe and secure.
So, let’s discuss how ducts might relate to furnace repair in Cumberland County, and three unique facts about your duct system.
1. Air Ducts and Exhaust Ducts
First, let’s discuss two different types of air ducts. There are the normal air ducts that run throughout your home transporting the fresh, heated air to the places where you spend the majority of your time. Then, there are port exhaust ducts, or ventilation ducts, which transport the harmful fumes created from your gas furnace’s combustion, out of your home.
There are major differences between these two types of ducts, but they also have similarities.
For starters, they’re usually made out of different materials. Port exhaust systems can usually be PVC piping or another kind of air/water-tight system, since one of the byproducts of combustion is water vapor that can quickly turn into liquid water. Your air ducts should only have air in them, so they’ll likely be made out of a lighter-weight material like sheet metal that’s not water-tight.
But both of these systems are similar. Air ducts must transport air, and your port exhaust must transport the exhaust fumes. Their goals are simple, to help the air reach its desired endpoint without any leaking.
2. Air Ducts Need to Be Air Tight
Your air ducts need to be sealed properly in order to function correctly. If you recently had your furnace repaired but you’re still unhappy with the quality of heating that’s coming from the system, that could be due to the fact that the air ducts are in disrepair.
Sometimes, the furnace isn’t the culprit, and the air ducts are! Make sure your air ducts are sealed and in good shape so that none of the precious heat created by your furnace is lost in the basement or crawlspace of your home.
3. Air Duct Contaminants Can Ruin Your Air Quality
Don’t forget about contaminants! Your air ducts can get exposed to dust and debris after years of cycling through air, and those contaminants can hinder the efficiency of your furnace system. Not only that, but it will heavily impact your indoor air quality and make you feel less comfortable. Many homeowners will quickly judge their furnace system as being the problem, but usually the source is the air ducts.
Give our team a call if you think your air ducts are the source of your problem, and we’ll do our best to repair them and make sure your furnace is in good shape too.
Contact Ambient Comfort for HVAC repairs and better system performance overall.