When Should Your Ductwork Be Replaced?

Your HVAC system relies on ducts to distribute heated or cooled air around your home. If your ductwork is damaged, blocked or leaking, your HVAC system will be forced to work overtime to keep you comfortable. Not only is this bad for your HVAC unit, but it’s also a quick way to rack up huge utility bills. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that an average of 20 percent of heated or cooled air is lost thanks to faulty ductwork. To avoid overpaying for heating and cooling, learn more about the signs that your ductwork may need to be replaced in Central Kansas:

• Your HVAC system is noisy: When you notice a lot of noise coming from your heating and cooling system, there’s a good chance that the ductwork is undersized. An HVAC contractor can come out and inspect your ductwork to see if that’s the problem, or if there’s another issue at play. Either way, don’t ignore this sign—heaters and air conditioners aren’t meant to make that much noise.
• You’ve noticed strange odors: If you notice weird smells whenever you turn on the heat or air, you might have mold growing in the ductwork. That can happen when the ductwork is leaky or damaged, or there are issues with the HVAC unit itself. Make sure to call for assistance right away, as breathing in mold can harm your health.
• Your home is more than 10 years old: Older homes are more prone to ductwork problems. Typically, residential construction uses the bare minimum quality instead of aiming for durability and longevity, so it might already be time to replace your ducts. If your home was built prior to 1980, the ductwork may also contain asbestos, which can seriously harm you and your family. It’s worth asking an HVAC contractor to inspect your ductwork for problems.
• It’s always dusty inside: Excessive dust is a clear sign that your ductwork has issues. Assuming you keep your windows closed most of the time, seeing a lot of dust around the house means that dusty outdoor air is getting in while your heated and cooled air is escaping. That means higher energy bills, along with an increased risk to your health—breathing in too much dust is harmful.
• The temperature seems inconsistent: Finally, if you start to notice heat inconsistencies between rooms, this can indicate that one or more of your ducts are leaking. Cooled or heated air might be escaping in the ductwork that leads to a specific room, but still making its way to the rest of your home.

If you think you have a ductwork issue and need to replace it in Central Kansas, call an HVAC contractor right away. They’ll conduct a blower test, which uses a large fan and pressure sensors to identify problem areas. Once they’ve identified where the leaks are located, it’s a relatively simple matter of repairing or replacing your ductwork. Your comfort will improve, and your utility bills should get some relief.

For expert HVAC services in Central Kansas, call KVK Inc. today.

Categorised in: Duct Repair

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