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If you have a centralized heating and air conditioning system, you have ductwork that runs throughout all the walls of your home. This helps to provide treated air to the rooms in your home as well as circulates the air so that it can be treated by your HVAC system. Unfortunately, your ductwork may get damaged from time to time. By understanding the common indicators below, you can know to get your ductwork repaired before it gets worse.
Dirt and Dust at Your Air Vents
One of the most obvious indicators of damaged ducting is that dust and dirt will accumulate around your air vents. While it’s completely natural for the grates of your vents to accumulate a small amount of dust over time as it settles throughout your home, this accumulation shouldn’t happen quickly. You’re more likely to see higher accumulations in a short amount of time near where there is a leak in the ducting. This is because the air pressure will pull in dust and debris from your wall cavities into your ducting.
Strange Noises
Your ducting can make slight noises as it expands and contracts with the hot and cold temperatures. However, if you start to hear unusually loud noises like popping, banging, and booming, it’s a cause for concern. When the metal membrane of your ducting has an air pressure change, it’s likely due to a hole in your ducting, ill-fitting ducting, or joints that are coming apart in your ducting.
Visibly Kinked or Aged
Look at all the exposed ducting throughout your home, specifically pay attention to the taped joints. If the ducting becomes tangled, kinked, or dented, it’s time to get it replaced. Additionally, as ducting ages, its joints, seals, and seams will start to deteriorate. On average, if your ducting is over 10 years old, it’s time to consider replacing it.
You See Pests or Their Droppings
Your ductwork makes the perfect home for pests throughout the year. Any holes or crevices that you’re ducting has will allow pests to enter. If there are pests coming out of your venting or their droppings are located near your vent, it’s an indication that you have a pest infestation in your ducting. Not only will you need to have the pest infestation removed, but you’ll also need to have your ducting looked over so that you can have the holes and crevices that they entered through repaired.
Poor Airflow
A significant indicator that you have a problem with your ducting is that the airflow is very poor throughout. This is likely caused by tears, cracks, or broken seals within your ducting. When outdoor air can make its way into your ducting, it slows down the circulation of air throughout your home. Additionally, when your ductwork is visibly dented or crushed, it will restrict the area that the air has to flow through it. This will result in significantly lower airflow than you’re used to.
Higher Than Normal Energy Bills
If you’ve opened your energy bill and it seems a lot higher than what’s normal, you know that you have a problem with your system. After checking over your furnace to ensure that it’s working optimally, the next thing to look at is your ducting. If your ductwork has developed leaks or dents, it can be letting you’re treated are out into the wall cavity. This, in turn, causes your furnace to work much harder to produce more warm air for your home to get it up to the temperature that you desire.
You’re Changing Air Filters Too Frequently
Homeowners must change their system’s air filter every couple of months. In the wintertime, you’ll likely have to change it every one to two months. However, if you’re starting to notice that your air filter is getting dirty in only a couple of short weeks, it could be an indication that you have a leak somewhere in your ducting. This leak allows dirty air to be pulled into your ductwork and circulated to your air filter.
Helpful Ductwork Services
Simmons Heating & Cooling offers helpful ductwork services for the entire Chesapeake, VA, area. We also provide air conditioning, heating, generator, indoor air quality, air purification, ductless mini-split, geothermal, water heater, and boiler services. Contact us today, and we’ll get a technician on the way to your home.
