The ductwork and vents on your home’s HVAC system deliver heated air in the winter and cool air in the summer. Normally, you don’t think about these ducts, because they go quietly about their job with no fuss. But leaky ducts can vent air into your attic or crawl space, wasting energy. By the same token, dirty air from these areas can infiltrate holes and cracks in ducts and get blown into your living spaces, aggravating allergies and breathing problems.
In the past, HVAC ducts usually were sheet-metal boxes, but in today’s homes they often are flexible, insulated tubes. They can tear on exposed nails or become disconnected, causing air to leak out. They can also become kinked and impede airflow. Here are some signs that your ductwork needs attention:
- Your utility bill goes up for no apparent reason. Forty-four percent of your home’s energy expense goes to heating and cooling your home. An inefficient HVAC system will have a noticeable effect.
- You notice that one or more rooms in your home no longer maintain a comfortable temperature.
- You or your family members are having allergies or respiratory issues that they didn’t have before.
Here is something you may not have known. Duct tape may be good for lots of home projects, but it isn’t good for sealing ducts. It tends to dry out over time, allowing duct joints to leak. Much preferable is mastic sealant or metal tape.
If you notice any of the problems noted above and suspect that your ductwork needs attention, call a professional HVAC service company to perform an inspection. They can find and correct any problems and “tune up” your heating and cooling system by making sure your ducts are the right size and routed for maximum efficiency. They can also clean your ducts and replace dried-out duct tape with sealing compounds that won’t allow leaks. Once your HVAC system is in top shape, keep it that way by having it inspected and serviced regularly.
For help with inspecting or sealing your ducts, please contact us at Joe Behr Plumbing & Heating. We provide quality HVAC services to the mid-Ohio area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Mid-Ohio area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about when your ductwork needs attention and other HVAC topics, visit our website.
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