If you have signs that your ducts are leaking in your home, don’t delay calling your local HVAC contractor. The cost of sealing your ducts is much less than the cost of lost energy and future repairs on your HVAC unit.
Wasted Air Conditioning
Leaking air ducts lead to wasted air conditioning. The air generated from your AC unit begins to escape through the leaky areas. You will still feel the air flowing through your home with a duct leak. However, your air conditioner will have to work twice as hard to cool your home.
Since the air conditioner aims to cool your home at the thermostat setting, it takes a lot more energy to do its job. This creates wasted air and more costly energy bills.
Increased Repairs
Since your air conditioner has to work harder, it is more likely to break or wear down from the added pressure. With wasted air, your air conditioner has to work in constant overtime to cool your home.
This extra work often translates to costly repairs. AC units are not designed to work at maximum capacity 24/7. When they do, it’s essentially speeding up the life expectancy of your machine.
Hot and Cold Spots
Leaky ducts can also cause hot and cold spots throughout the home. This is because your AC unit isn’t able to properly cool or heat the house fully. That might mean an entire room could be hotter than the rest of the house.
To compensate, often you will turn the temperature down further to try to cool that room or eliminate those spots. This extended energy leads to higher energy bills down the line.
Common Causes of Duct Leaks
There are several reasons why your ducts might be leaking. Some of the top causes include:
- Aging ducts
- Lack of cleaning
- Broken seals
- Rodents or pests
- Humidity
- Pressure differences throughout the house
Common Signs of Leaky Ductwork
It isn’t easy to know or understand the state of your ductwork. However, there are a few signs of leaky ductwork that you should look out for:
- Higher energy bills
- Excessive dust
- Lower air flow
- Uneven temperatures across the house
- Poor air quality
- Constant need for AC repairs
Preventing Leaky Ducts
Fortunately, it’s an easy solution to fix leaky ducts. It’s more affordable to fix the leaks than it is to pay for the extra energy bills or repairs on your air conditioner. Call in a licensed contractor to check your ductwork and seal any leaks. It will lower your utility bills and improve the efficiency and life of your air conditioner.
We hear the question, “Is duct cleaning a waste of money?” a lot. Air duct cleaning done at the right time by a professional HVAC technician can save you money in the long run.
If you need HVAC repairs in your home, we are the experts to call. Give us a call at 318-795-8000 to schedule an appointment.