Bad Ducts = Bad Air
Higher energy bills and lower comfort levels aren’t the worst effects of faulty ducts.
It’s well known that leaky, poorly designed duct systems cost their owners money and comfort in multiple ways. However, such systems can also make the air inside the houses unsafe to breathe. Indoor-air quality (IAQ) doesn’t get nearly as much attention as other green-building concerns such as energy efficiency, but it should be one of the highest priorities for anyone who breathes air and spends time indoors. I grew up with really bad asthma, which was often triggered by indoor pollutants. I know the importance of good IAQ. I’ve also learned a good bit of building science and know that these issues are interconnected.
Ducts in forced-air heating-and-cooling systems do one of two things: They either supply conditioned (heated or cooled) air to the house, or they return house air to be conditioned. Both supply and return ducts connect to the air handler, which is essentially…
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