You may be surprised to learn that a quarter of the air in your HVAC system is leaking out because of damaged or poorly fitted air ducts. This means that you could be wasting hundreds of dollars every single year.
Thankfully, there are ways to resolve these problems. One option is to contact us at White Mechanical, Inc.. Our team of skilled HVAC professionals can help you upgrade your ductwork or provide full air duct replacement services.
Regardless of the steps you take, you must do something to improve the condition of your air ducts before the problem gets worse. Here are some signs that you need air duct replacement and a brief explanation of why ductwork is so vital in your home.
The Vital Role of HVAC Ductwork
When homeowners think about fixing their HVAC system, their ductwork is often overlooked. This can be an expensive mistake. Your air ducts connect to every part of your home. They either pull or push heated or cooled air into different parts of your home.
If your ductwork is not connected correctly or if there are a lot of holes in your ductwork, you are going to lose air pressure. Your HVAC system has to work harder, leading to increased energy bills.
Air ducts are designed to last for an average of 15 years. Most are made from a mixture of plastic and fiberglass. At some point, the air ducts are going to get damaged. It’s just part of the normal wear and tear of the home. The sooner you identify the signs of damage and correct them, the better. This way, you won’t spend so much money on your energy bill and will be able to prevent costly repairs.
When your air ducts get damaged, it becomes harder to control your home’s temperature. For example, your AC unit might not be able to distribute cold air throughout your home efficiently. You will have cold spots in some rooms and hot spots in others.
If your AC unit is damaged, you can take steps to make it work more efficiently. However, repairing your air ducts when they’re damaged can help avoid more expensive, complicated problems down the line. Damaged air ducts can transport toxins through vents, especially if there are mold and mildew problems. Identifying issues with your HVAC ducts, repairing these issues, and keeping your HVAC ducts in good condition are vital steps you must take since they affect your quality of life. Here are some signs that you need air duct replacement.
Your HVAC System Is Making a Lot of Noise
Your HVAC system should make some noise while it’s operating. But the noise should not be overwhelmingly loud. If your HVAC system is constantly rattling or it sounds like your ductwork is vibrating, you need to have professionals inspect the ducts.
The air ducts in your house are connected using plastic or fiberglass joints. If these joints are damaged, you’re going to hear a rattling or whistling sound. Similarly, if your ductwork has holes in it, you’re going to hear noise as the air circulates through the ductwork. Don’t ignore these problems. With time, they’re only going to get worse.
Increased Energy Bills
Your HVAC system is not airtight. There is going to be some air leakage as the air travels through your ducts. However, when more than 20% of circulating air escapes, this will impact your energy bill.
This only makes sense. When you activate your thermostat, you tell your HVAC system that you want to warm or cool your home to a set temperature. As the HVAC system works, the indoor temperature changes, but it’s not enough to where the system deactivates. This is because a lot of air is escaping, so the HVAC system operates inefficiently.
Inefficiency leads to increased energy bills because your HVAC system is working harder to keep your home temperature controlled. Suppose you see a spike in energy bills and have not increased energy use, such as purchasing new kitchen appliances. In that case, there’s a good chance that the spiking energy bill is because of leaky ductwork.
Uneven Temperature Control
If you walk into a room and see that it’s too hot or too cold when compared to the rest of the house, this could be an indication that your HVAC ductwork needs to be repaired. Faulty ductwork may not be able to send enough air to certain parts of your home.
The best way to verify this is to install an indoor thermometer. If the temperature differences are off, you need to contact professionals who will inspect your ductwork right away. There could be a massive leak in your ductwork. As the air escapes through these leaks, your HVAC won’t be able to efficiently warm up or cool down certain rooms in your home.
Your Home Is Extremely Dusty
It is impossible to get rid of dust completely. It’s everywhere. However, if you see a ton of dust in your house, this could indicate that your ductwork is damaged. Why does this happen?
Dust from outside the duct is getting in through holes. Your HVAC system then carries the dust to vents and sprays it throughout your home. An indication that your ductwork may be damaged is that you’re sneezing more than usual. You need to do something about dust accumulation caused by damaged HVAC ductwork immediately. If not, you and your family could be at risk for respiratory issues.
Your Home Smells Like Mold or Mildew
Poorly installed or connected ducts can cause mildew issues. Mold and mildew grow when there are uneven temperatures inside and outside of HVAC ductwork. For example, warm air travels through cold ducts, leading to condensation. Over a few months, mold and mildew will start to develop. You will smell it because the air that has been contaminated by mold and mildew is being pushed through your vents.
Mold and mildew can lead to a host of health problems. They can damage your furniture and cause your house to smell damp. If you smell mold and mildew in your home, have your ductwork inspected immediately.
A Pest Problem
Damaged ductwork is a magnet for pests. Holes in your ductwork allow bugs and rodents to get in. They will quickly establish colonies, causing difficult and expensive problems to fix. Rodents and other pests can leave behind unpleasant smells, microbes, and bacteria. They can make scary noises that keep you up during the night.
If bugs and rodents block your ductwork, this can damage your HVAC system. If you see signs of a pest infestation, you want to call HVAC professionals to repair it and then work with pest removal professionals to eliminate the pests.
Your HVAC system is the heart of your home. At White Mechanical, Inc., we take your HVAC systems seriously. We offer cooling and heating services for residential and commercial buildings in Foothill Ranch, CA. Our NATE-certified technicians are skilled and ready to help you. We are licensed, bonded, and insured. Whether you need help with duct cleaning, duct upgrades, ceiling insulation installation, ventilation, or filtration, contact White Mechanical, Inc. today for more information.
