Ductwork has a life expectancy of 20 to 25 years. After 15 years, however, your ductwork may begin to experience some problems. These problems could be manifesting as leaks, poor insulation, or an overall decrease in duct efficiency. And any decrease in duct efficiency is definitely going to affect your heating system's performance. Surprisingly, the most obvious solution (upgrading to an entirely new ductwork system) is not your only option. Keeping your existing duct system in good condition for as long as possible is certainly the more budget-friendly option, and it can easily be done with some careful planning and problem prevention.