Definition
Ductwork is the system of supply and return ducts that moves air between a furnace, heat pump, or air handler and the rooms of a home. Supply runs deliver heated or cooled air; returns bring room air back to be filtered and reconditioned. Ducts are typically sheet metal, flexible duct, or duct board, insulated where they cross unconditioned space.
Also called: Ducts, Duct system
Why it matters to you
In many Clark County and Portland-metro homes the ducts run through vented crawlspaces and attics that stay cold and damp all winter, so a leaky or uninsulated run gives away heat before it reaches the room. Older homes that have been remodeled or added onto often still run on the original ducts, which is a common cause of a back bedroom or bonus room that never feels right.
Practical guidance
Homeowners can keep registers and return grilles unblocked and note rooms that run hot, cold, or dusty. Inspecting crawlspace and attic runs, testing for leakage, sealing, and resizing or replacing ducts is work for a licensed HVAC contractor.
About this definition
Written by the Home Energy Group team — a family-owned HVAC company celebrating 25 years of comfort & care across SW Washington and the Portland metro, licensed in Washington (WA LIC# HOMEEGI003J7) and Oregon (OR CCB# 184255). Definitions inform; an on-site diagnosis decides.
