The ductwork is a critical component of your HVAC system, and its condition directly impacts your comfort, energy expenses, and even the quality of the air you breathe. If your ducts are deteriorating and need replacement, certain problems can start to develop in your home, including:
- Temperature inconsistencies between rooms.
- An excessive amount of dust.
- Poor indoor air quality due to pollutants pulled into the ducts through leaks and other deficiencies.
- Mold growth in the ducting caused by trapped humidity.
- Declining energy efficiency and rising operating costs.
How to Decide Whether to Replace Your Ductwork
If you're experiencing any of the symptoms of deteriorating air ducts, here's how to decide if replacement is the right option:
- Factor in age and quality.If the existing duct system isn't well designed, or if poor-quality materials were used or shortcuts taken during installation, it may need replacement after just 10 to 15 years.
- Evaluate the condition of any exposed ducting.Examine the accessible ducts in your attic, garage, or crawl space for signs of decay such as rusty or corroded metal, disconnected spans, dust streaks around the seams, or leaks around the joints.
- Check for temperature inconsistencies and airflow issues.Reduced airflow from the registers in some rooms can indicate problems like disconnected or collapsed duct sections. Temperature variations between rooms typically point to degraded sealant or insulation.
- Schedule a duct blower test.During the test, a trained technician will pressurize the ductwork and measure the airflow required to maintain that pressure level to determine how much air is being lost.
- Have the ducts professionally inspected.A knowledgeable HVAC pro can inspect the ductwork and advise you whether replacement is necessary. An experienced professional can also ensure that your new duct system is designed and installed correctly, then properly sealed, insulated, and tested for leakage.
If you're concerned about the condition of the ductwork in your South Bay Peninsula or Santa Cruz home and need expert advice, contact Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical. Visit our website for in-depth information on most HVAC topics, or just give us a call at 408-294-6290.
Our goal is to help educate our customers inthe South Bay Peninsula and Santa Cruz areas of Californiaabout energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).