Your ducts run into problems, but it’s not just as simple as “This duct is leaking, let’s seal it up.”
There are other issues you can encounter, and for a system that delivers your temperature-treated air throughout the entire house, you really need to pay attention to every problem as it pops up.
When you call for duct repair, it could mean multiple different types of repairs. Let’s walk through them all right now so you can get a feel for what these duct repairs are, and why they matter so much.
Duct Cleaning
It’s a cleaning task, so why is it listed as a repair? When your ductwork is really dusty on the inside, it causes air resistance. That lowers the efficiency of your HVAC unit, and that leads to two problems:
- Greater wear and tear due to longer runtimes.
- More energy is spent due to longer runtimes.
Air resistance doesn’t sound like the most pressing issue, because it doesn’t immediately stop your air conditioner or furnace from working. But it makes them work harder which leads to faster degradation.
You don’t need to clean your ducts every year, but once every three years or so should do the trick.
Bad Insulation
Did you know your insulation can go bad? Well, in a sense. It depends on the type of insulation that you have. Certain insulation can last up to a century (yes, you read that correctly). Other types will expire in about 15-20 years.
They break down and degrade, slowly reducing your energy efficiency over time. This is important because if your ductwork insulation is made of fiberglass it might be causing problems when you try to heat or cool your home.
If your ductwork hasn’t been changed out in over a decade, it’s worth entertaining the idea that the insulation could be causing you to spend more energy than you should to heat and cool your home.
Air Leaks
You pay money and spend energy to temperature-treat air in your HVAC system. Then it’s supposed to flow through the vents, and change the temperature inside your home.
Leaky ducts cause two big problems that directly impact your ability to heat and cool your home:
- Less temperature-treated air makes it to its destination.
- Air pressure problems (due to leaks) make it harder for air to travel.
Air leaks can also cause mold problems if warm air seeps into your attic and walls, creating a high relative humidity level and trapping moisture in dark spaces.
Time for Repairs
If your HVAC unit is the heart of your home, then consider the ducts to be its arteries. These repairs highlight some of the ways that your ductwork constantly keeps your indoor air quality, heating, and cooling at peak levels.
Whether your ducts are dirty, leaking, or just aren’t producing enough airflow, you owe it to yourself to have your ductwork looked at and repaired. There’s no time like the present.
Contact Fresh Air, L.P. today to schedule duct repair and restore your home comfort as soon as possible.
