How do you tell if your HVAC ductwork is leaking your money? You are probably thinking about this right now, and wondering if there are tell-tale signs that you could look for to be sure.
It’s quite a task working in the crawlspace or going up into the attic, or tearing down part of a wall to inspect these ducts. The fact is an inspection may have to be done if you notice an upward creep in your air-conditioning bills. Over time due to wear and tear from expansion and contraction of the HVAC ductwork; they may crack or become disconnected leading to loss of cold air causing the HVAC system to work harder. You know the outcome of this right? – a hefty energy bill at the end of the month.
How to Tell if Your Ductwork is Leaking
Most often than not, homeowners blame their air-conditioning unit for issues arising from a leaky ductwork without actually realizing where the fault lies. Here are some common signs of leaky ductwork;
- Unusual High Energy Bills – This is the number one sign that something might be wrong with your ducts. As a result of the loss of cold air, the air-conditioning units are over worked leading to higher energy use. So if your utility bill has been going up without an apparent reason, this could be a sure sign that your ductwork has a problem.
- Rooms Are Hard to Heat or Cool – If you notice some rooms or part of your home is unusually hard to heat or cool, this could also mean that there’s a hole in your ducts that prevents proper ventilation.
- Stuffy, Dusty Rooms – These two things are a result of poor circulation. If a room is stuffy, the air is not moving in that room. If the room is very dusty, dirt and dust may be sucked into the ductwork through holes and then blown out into the room.
Sealing Your HVAC Ductwork
Once you notice signs of leaking from your air-ducts; the first step in getting it fixed would be to invite a professional and qualified HVAC technician to inspect your ducts. This inspection will enable them to assess the quality of your air-ducts, and recommend a possible course of action.
For a complete air sealing solution, contact Good Deals Heating and Cooling today to schedule a visit.
