Top Warning Signs Your Air Ducts May NeedReplacement

Air ducts are often ignored by most homeowners. Studies have shown that YourHVAC system loses about 20-30 % of the air that travels through the ductwork.The HVAC ducts provide the pathway through which hot or cold air is transport toyour house. Normally, air ducts last about 10-15 years. If your air ducts aredamaged, have leaks, holes, or have been poorly installed. it will create anuncomfortable environment in your home. This problem has a solution. Butignoring the warning signs that something is wrong with your air ducts can leadto a lot of money waste and expensive cooling and heating repair Sacramentoeach year. Replacing air ducts is a smart choice when the damage is beyondrepair and your HVAC is too old as it will save your money on heating and coolingbills down the line.So, it’s vital you take action in a proactive way by identifying the warning signs that tell your air ducts may need replacement.Here are the top signs you need to pay attention to:

• Bad coolingThe poor cooling issues can be caused by many reasons. The first thing you cando is checking your air filter and replace them if necessary. When filters areclogged, filthy, the airflow becomes obstructed and you experience poor coolingin your rooms. IF even after replacing the filter, the situation doesn’t improve. It’s

time to call a professional heating and air conditioner service Sacramento forinspecting your duct system.

• Your HVAC is too oldOld ducts can create a number of problems in your HVAC system. Air ducts, withproper care and maintenance, can last up to 10 years. Although the ductwork ofthe system may seem to work fine, problems can arise at any time in the future.Over the years, your air ducts will face wear and tear, will get damaged. Once theyare damaged, they can invite all other problems such as poor cooling and heating,costly energy bills, and increased trouble. Therefore, if your air ducts are too old,they will probably need replacement. So, you should schedule a ductworkinspection by HVAC experts, if this is the case.

• A spike in your energy billsIf you notice your energy bills rising up, and there is no understandable reasonwhy it is happening, there is a good chance that your ductwork is not cleaned, orclogged, or might have holes. In case, you have holes and leaks which are small,sealing them will solve the problem and you won’t need to go for an entirereplacement of the ductwork to save on your energy bills. All of these possiblecauses can decrease the efficiency of your HVAC system. Regular air ductcleaning also helps in improving the efficiency of your system. A licensed airconditioning and heating company can test your ducts and find the problembehind high energy bills.

• Dents & PuncturesThe composition and designing of air ducts are done in a strategic way so thatyour home can get cooled air evenly at all places. However, dents and puncturesin the ductwork can affect its ability to cool your home effectively. In the event offiguring out dents and punctures in your ductwork system, call a renowned HVACand water heater repair Sacramento professionals to examine the situation.Whether you need repair or replacement, this is something professional HVACtechnicians can expertly suggest to you.

• Mold growth and unpleasant smellThe mold growth inside the ductwork or around the system is a problem that canlead to severe health problems in your family. The mold can even cause damageto your home furniture and property. Mold can also find its way into the ductworkif the ducts are poorly installed or connected. If you smell a bad or musty odorthroughout your home and suspect you have mold growth in your ducts, call alicensed professional as soon as possible. Mold growth can make your family sickand cause allergies. Mold growth is serious and must come to the attention ofprofessional HVAC experts.

• You have noisy ductsIf strange noises are coming from your HVAC system when it operates, it is likelythat you have a problem with your ducts. Several times, the cause of noises islikely linked with undersized ducts. If that is the problem, you will needreplacement. Other times, the loud and strange noises could be the result ofholes, or poor installation of the ducts, or disconnections in the system. Contactthe nearest HVAC technician for checks.

• Poorly installed or connected ducts.Poor installation can decrease efficiency, and cause poor cooling and heatingperformance. Improper installation can cause a lot of energy less, andcompromised comfort in your house. So, in case you have ductwork that wasinstalled improperly in your house, no doubt will need replacement here. Nomatter if you have a good energy-efficient model, if the installation has been doneimproperly, it will affect its efficiency and performance to cool the home. Thus, itwill cause more energy loss. If your rooms don’t get cool properly, it’s time tocontact a professional for an inspection.

• Indoor air quality is not goodRegardless of how much you clean your home, if it’s still dusty, the problem is dueto old ductwork. Holes and gaps in the ductwork system will allow the dust,hazardous pollutants, and other contaminants from outside to find their way intothe ductwork and get circulated all throughout the entire system, and also spreadout into all corners of your home. So, if you are experiencing allergy symptoms

and other flu-like symptoms more often than ever. You need to inspect yourductwork with experienced and reliable heating and air conditioner services.In times of Covid, it can be too dangerous for your health as viruses and bacteriacan travel through your HVAC system and then recirculated again and againthrough the ductwork system, making your indoor air full of airborne viruses.● Pest, rats, and Insect InfestationsIf pests, rodents, other insects are living or have got inside your air ducts, this cancreate a problem with the ductwork system. Unsealed gaps and rips often providethese insects, or rodents the way to get inside. If the rats have traveled insidethrough these pathways, they can even create more gaps and holes. By using theirsharp teeth. So, how to identify if they’re inside and staying in your ductwork?Well, you need to pay attention to the following signs mentioned below :

1.If you find dropping of mice, rats, or cockroaches around the ductwork, it’ssure that they are inside the ductwork.2.You smell a stale, rancid, ammonia-like smell emanating from the vents, thisis a bad sign.3.Do you hear scratching sounds around the ductwork? You may get thechance to heat scratching and skittering sounds as these sounds are createdwhen insects and other pest moves.

There are various health concerns that come from insects and other pests movingand living inside the ductwork. It increases the risk of allergies and can triggerasthma symptoms in humans. Call an experienced cooling and heating repairprofessional to address this problem.Last, all of these warning signs should not be ignored and need attention fromHVAC professionals.Source: https://www.thepostcity.com/top-warning-signs-your-air-ducts-may-need-replacement/