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The air ducts originally installed on a house are designed for low cost, not optimum performance.
When builders build a house, they typically use the cheapest materials in order to increase their profits. The result is a duct system that was designed to be just barely satisfactory for the original air conditioning system. Having an air duct system that is properly designed to give optimum air flow will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the entire system.
Your air conditioning system is only as strong as the weakest link.
Modern high efficiency air conditioners offer great performance and energy savings, but if your ducts are not in good condition and properly sized for the equipment, you won't see any of it. Just because a company came in and installed a new air conditioner does not mean they checked the ductwork. High efficiency air conditioners need high air flow to achieve their potential, and well designed duct systems are a major part of getting that flow.
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Low cost duct systems degrade quickly.
Cheap air ducts typically are made with a thin plastic outer liner that are easily torn by careless service people and hungry attic-dwelling creatures. Tears become leaks, which reduce air flow, waste energy, and provide a way for dust and debris from the attic to enter the home. Also, because they are located in the attic, air ducts are exposed to constant high temperatures, which accelerates degradation. Poorly sealed junctions can come loose under the heat, resulting in even more leaks.
The EPA and Department of Energy highly recommend it.
They estimate that the average house loses 20% of its air flow to leaks. That is a lot of wasted air conditioning! Having your duct work serviced is an easy way to recover all of this wasted energy.
