How often do you think about the ductwork in your home? Unless you actually work in the HVAC industry or home construction, the answer is probably not that much. After all, residential ductwork is designed to hide out of sight in walls and up in the attic, and when you can’t see it you don’t think much about it.
But bad ductwork can turn into a problem for your household, and this winter you may find yourself facing leaking ducts that will make the season less enjoyable for several reasons.
The Problems of Leaking Air Ducts
Although a few holes in the ducts going through the attic or in the walls may not seem like a huge deal, such leaks can lead to a loss of up to 30% of the air moving through the ventilation system. This loss of air can have significant consequences:
- Increased energy bills: Losing up to 30% of the heated air inside the ducts means you’re losing air that you’ve already paid to heat. It goes to waste in the closed off areas of the house, which can mean that you’re essentially spending a third of your heating budget on heating the attic. These leaks can make your utility bills unpleasant to look at.
- More stress on the HVAC system: The lost heat through the duct leaks means the HVAC system must put in more work to make up for the loss, so the stress on the system increases. This can lead to otherwise unnecessary repairs and a reduction of the system’s lifespan.
- Lower comfort: Ducts are supposed to maintain an airtight seal along their length to help the HVAC system maintain air pressure. Air leaks cause the pressure to drop and lower the effectiveness of the heating system. Cold spots will appear around the house and airflow from the vents decline.
- Reduced indoor air quality: Because duct leaks open onto closed-off parts of the house, they can drag in dust and other contaminants that will end up blown into the living spaces. This can even include mold spores. These air leaks can cause humidity imbalances as well.
Solving Duct Leaks
Although you can’t see these air leaks in the ductwork, you’ll notice their effects. If you’re dealing with higher bills, lower comfort, musty and moldy smells, and rattling sounds from the vents, you probably have damaged ductwork. (And if you don’t, there is definitely something else wrong with the HVAC system.) You cannot do repairs to the ducts on your own. Not only are they too difficult to access, but commercial products like the badly named “duct tape” won’t fix the ducts.
The first step is to call our professionals for duct testing. We’ll pressurize the ductwork and determine based on pressure loss how extensive a problem you have. We’ll then perform professional duct sealing to restore the integrity of the ventilation system.
If you have questions about our duct services in Conway, AR, please call us! We’re always focused on doing the right thing for homeowners—even when it’s hard.
Dewees HVAC is a family-owned and veteran-operated company serving the Conway area. Talk to us today to schedule duct services or other HVAC work.