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Methods of Filling Spare Ducts
A home's duct system is what enables
the furnace in the utility room to heat or cool the entire living environment.
The supply ducts move the air from the furnace to the room, and the return
ducts provide the path back to the furnace. You can adjust the amount of hot
and cold conditioning around the building by filling the unwanted ducts.
1.
Return
Ducts
o
The return ducts provide a path for
the building's air back to the furnace. These ducts are typically the larger
rectangular registers found at the top or bottom of the interior walls. A
single return duct services several supply registers and shouldn't be filled.
The reason is that it causes the furnace fan to work harder in drawing air back
to the furnace, slowing the speed of air movement over its heat exchanger and
reducing the furnace's life span.
Basement Ducts
o
It is common for homeowner's to plug
basement supply ducts because they feel the temperature is too cold. This lack
of heat is due to the natural effect of cold air sinking to the lowest part of
the house. If all of the ducts in the basement are filled, the space no longer
gets proper airflow. This leads to a musty smelling basement because the air is
stagnant and the moisture that accumulates in the lowest area of the house is
never removed. In severe cases, it can lead to mold growing in the wall system.