How to Know If You Need to Replace Your Ductwork

The ductwork of your home is like its circulatory system. It circulates cold or heated air in the entire house making you feel comfortable even during extreme weather conditions. So, it is important that your ductwork is always clean, well insulated, and in a good condition. If you feel that your ductwork has become old and worn out, and can no longer be properly sealed or repaired, you should get it replaced.

Old and worn out ductwork can cause several problems in your home. The biggest problem that is causes is that of ineffective heating and cooling, and energy inefficiency. Air leakage can cause your HVAC system to work harder to match up to thermostat settings, and may increase energy bills. Some areas of the home may get more heated or cold compared to other areas.

Another very common problem caused by leaky and worn out ductwork is that of poor indoor air quality. Leaky ducts suck in dust, pollen, and other pollutants from the environment and circulate them in the entire house. These allergens can cause several health problems. This is not all, old and worn out ductwork can also leak water, and may damage furniture and other property in the house.

Consider the Age

On an average, ductwork lasts for as long as 10-15 years before it starts to deteriorate. If you have never replaced the ductwork and it has lived well past its age of 10-15 years, you should consider getting it replaced. However, if the poor quality materials were used or shortcuts were taken during installation of ductwork, it may not even last this long.

Check Exposed Areas

Inspect exposed ducts in areas such as crawl spaces and attics to find out any holes or tears. You should also look out for disconnected joints or eroded duct tape.

Inspect Air Flow

Visit each room of the house when the HVAC system is running and see if the air flow is proper at all places. If you see any irregularities or temperature variations, it may be a sign of eroding ductwork.

Schedule a Duct Blower Test

Often the best way to tell how well your ductwork is working is by scheduling a duct blower test with your HVAC company. This test measures the amount of air leakage that happens through ducts.

If you think your ductwork has completed its life, and now needs replacement, you should get in touch with a heating and cooling company and discuss your plans. The sooner you get the replacement done, the better it will be. Otherwise, no matter how good your heating and cooling system is, it will not be as effective.