Welcome to Ready & Able, formerly known as David LeRoy Plumbing! Although our name and brand have changed, we are still here to serve you and all of your plumbing, heating, cooling, and air quality needs!
Ductwork is essential for moving heated or cooled air throughout your home. Common issues include leaks, insulation problems, blockages, or disconnected sections, all of which can lower efficiency and reduce comfort indoors.
Ducts are usually made from durable materials like galvanized steel or aluminum, which resist corrosion. Some ducts are flexible and made of plastic over a metal coil, allowing for easier placement in tight spaces. Others, such as fiberglass-lined ducts, help with insulation and noise reduction, while fiberboard ducts are lightweight and budget-friendly.
In many older houses, ductwork can develop several leaks. When this happens, the warm or cool air your HVAC system generates escapes before reaching the intended areas. This means you could be wasting money heating spaces like the attic, basement, or crawlspace without even knowing it. The good news is that adding ductwork insulation is an affordable upgrade that can save you money and resolve this issue.
With proper installation, sealing, and insulation, your ductwork will efficiently distribute warm and cool air throughout your home, resulting in an even and comfortable temperature. Unfortunately, ductwork materials can be fragile and thin, making it easy for air to leak out. Proper insulation keeps the air temperature consistent and easier to regulate. You won’t experience drastic fluctuations in temperature as the air reaches your vents. Best of all, you won’t waste money on high energy bills.
You know how expensive it is to heat and cool your home. If your ductwork doesn’t have adequate insulation, that air from the HVAC system can escape without you realizing that’s where your money is going. The average home can lose up to 30% of this air through leaky ductwork with poor insulation. Not only are you losing air you’re paying to condition, but your HVAC system has to work harder, which leads to a shortened lifespan. All these expenses add up, making insulating your ductwork a great value.
Insulating your ductwork takes several steps. The first is addressing any leaks. Before professionally installing the insulation, we need to seal all holes, gaps, and cracks. The goal is to eliminate any place where air can escape. Once this step is complete, you can have the insulation installed. The insulation will keep the temperature of the air in the ducts consistent and help prevent further issues such as moisture.
Here are some of the benefits ductwork insulation does for your home’s HVAC system:
If you can lose up to 30% of the warm or cool air from your ductwork before it reaches your vents, you may be spending over a quarter of your HVAC energy bill on lost air. Once you have the proper insulation surrounding your ductwork, this money will go directly toward heating and cooling your home.
Your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard. This saves on wear and tear, reduces heating and cooling repairs, and extends its lifespan.
Since insulation makes your ductwork more efficient, you’ll be more comfortable in your home. You’ll also improve your indoor air quality. Those same leaks that allow air to escape can let poor-quality air in, which causes dust and other pollutants to circulate throughout your home. You’ll be able to turn down the thermostat and eliminate air-purifying costs, as well as medical expenses that come from an increase in respiratory issues.
Less condensation is another money-saving benefit of properly insulating your ductwork. Condensation will form on the surface of your ductwork when the temperature reaches or drops lower than the dew point.
This moisture is the perfect setting for microbial contamination. Proper insulation reduces condensation on the ductwork, which helps lower the chance of bacteria, mold, or mildew taking hold. It provides you with a way to avoid structural damage to your home that these can cause, and you’ll avoid the high cost of mold removal services.
When you hear someone mention insulation, you usually think of the traditional fiberglass kind between your floor joists and wall studs. The XPS foam boards that cover the exterior of a house may also come to mind, but many more options are available for insulating your ductwork. Finding the right type of insulation for your specific needs can also save you money.
If you’re replacing old ductwork or installing ductwork, consider using flexible ductwork with insulation built in. Since it is flexible, bypassing obstacles and going around openings is easy. It comes in various thicknesses, and insulating your ductwork reduces noise when air moves through it.
Fiberglass duct boards are a favorite among contractors, as they’re easy to use during a retrofit or when working on additions or renovations. They’re more resistant to fungal growth and bacteria than traditional sheet metal ducts and have a tighter seal. You won’t hear any of the usual squeaking and popping noises that are common with metal ducts, either. Fiberglass duct boards help improve acoustic control.
Duct wrap is an insulating fabric that you can easily wrap around your ducts. It reduces heat loss and thermal energy transfer. It has a foil surface that is easy to clean and looks like sheet metal. These wraps also help control condensation, which is a common issue in air conditioning ducts. This saves you even more money by eliminating repairs for moisture problems.
If the ductwork you are worrying about is in the attic, loose-fill fiberglass insulation is ideal. It’s a great way to cover any ductwork that is out in the open, contributing to your home’s overall energy efficiency. An attic with poor insulation will make your house feel warm in the summer and cold during the winter, even with your HVAC system functioning. Poor insulation can even lead to the formation of ice dams, which can damage your roof. Roof repairs can also be expensive.
Sufficient insulation around your ductwork can reduce your energy bill while keeping your home comfortable all year. Since we started our business in 1998, Ready & Able Plumbing, Heating & Air has offered HVAC installation, maintenance, and repair services that can help you keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, including duct cleaning and other ductwork services.
We provide expert and reliable customer service to help Harrisburg residents enjoy their homes, which is reflected in our status as a BBB-accredited business. We offer financing on approved credit and monthly online specials to take advantage of. We help homeowners with their plumbing issues, from drain cleaning to finding the perfect garbage disposal.
Our team will even provide you with air quality solutions that leave you breathing easier. Contact Ready & Able Plumbing, Heating & Air today to learn more about our award-winning services in Harrisburg.
Welcome to Ready & Able, formerly known as David LeRoy Plumbing! Although our name and brand have changed, we are still here to serve you and all of your plumbing, heating, cooling, and air quality needs!