Your home’s air ducts are an important part of household ventilation, as they’re the system that allows your heating and air conditioning appliances to successfully circulate warm and cool air through the home. Many homeowners overlook their ductwork when thinking about maintaining and replacing their household appliances, but it’s important not to let yourself forget about it. Just like your heating and cooling systems, the air ducts in your home need regular attention, as they can sometimes require repairs and replacement, too. You wouldn’t want to take risks with the air that you and your family are breathing, which is why you shouldn’t take risks with your ducts.
Since ductwork is forgotten about so often, fewer people are knowledgeable about when it’s time to replace it. Here, we will go over some of the most common signs.
1. Old Ducts
Just like any household appliances, your air ducts can typically only last for so many years before they need to be replaced. Assuming your ductwork has been cared for properly, it’s not uncommon for it to stay in good shape for as long as 10 or more years. However, air ducts that are neglected will reach the end of their lifespan sooner than this. Once your air ducts reach their old age, their seals, joints, and seams will begin to deteriorate over time, which can force your heating and air conditioning systems to work harder. This can result in poorer climate control within your home, more expensive monthly energy bills, and your appliances having problems that require costly repairs.
2. Ineffective Cooling
When your ductwork has started to deteriorate or has something else wrong with one of its components, it can affect your cooling system’s ability to work properly. If you notice that on a hot day your air conditioner isn’t cooling you down as much as it should, it’s possible that you’re in need of duct replacement services. There are also other reasons that can cause poor cooling performance, such as a clogged or dirty air filter on the appliance. However, if you’ve cleaned the air filter, and you’re still having the problem, it could very well be an issue with the air ducts, and you should probably have a trained professional come take a look. At Champion Air, our technicians are available to provide timely and affordable inspections, if you need your ductwork checked.
3. Rising Energy Bills
When air is flowing through the ducts in your home, it’s completely normal for a small amount of it to escape. However, when a leak or crack in the ductwork causes a larger percentage of the air to seep out, it can be a serious problem because it forces your HVAC systems to compensate for it. When this is happening, you’ll notice that you’re paying more money over time for your monthly energy bills. Because this can be a symptom of many different household appliance problems, the best way to be certain it’s an air duct problem is by having a professional HVAC technician investigate it. Because of their training and experience, they will be able to diagnose the problem and get to the bottom of what’s causing your energy bills to rise. If necessary, our professionals can also take care of the ductwork replacement for you as well.
4. Excess Dust in Your Home
Just about everyone’s home is going to have some amount of dust within its walls. As much as we would all love to have completely immaculate, dust-free homes, it just isn’t a realistic goal. However, if you notice that there is much more dust coating the surfaces in your house than normal, it’s very possible that it’s being caused by a problem with your ducts. If your ductwork has any sort of cracks or leaks, it allows dust from the outside world to get inside and start mixing in with the air, which is being circulated by your home’s heating or cooling systems. What happens next is the dust is then spread out in various areas of the house via all of your air vents. So, if you notice excess dust all over your house and you aren’t aware of any reason for it, it’s probably a good idea to bring in an HVAC technician to check for any problems.
5. Mold or Mildew Smell
Many homeowners don’t realize that, oftentimes, the source of their mold or mildew problem is actually an issue with their ductwork. When the temperatures within your air ducts become inconsistent or uneven, such as when warm air moves through a cold duct, it can create condensation. Over time, this condensation allows for mold and mildew to grow, which can cause a variety of serious health problems if left unchecked. The good news is that mold and mildew typically come with a fairly easy to recognize symptom: the powerful smell. If you notice that unpleasant, musty smell coming from your duct system, you definitely want to investigate it sooner rather than later. It’s very possible that the cause will turn out to be ductwork that is either connected improperly or insulated poorly and needs to be repaired or replaced.
6. Pests in Your Home
It’s not just dust and debris that can enter through leaks or cracks in your ductwork. Unfortunately, insects and even potentially small rodents can potentially find their way into your damaged ductwork and create an infestation in your home. These little pests can cause serious problems in your house, as their presence can create an unhealthy and unpleasant environment. If you start to suspect that you have a pest problem in your house, in addition to calling in the exterminator, you may also want to call in a ventilation professional to take a look at your ductwork.
At Champion Air, we take pride in providing affordable, high-quality ventilation work for the residents of the greater Phoenix, AZ, area. If you suspect that the ductwork in your house may be having problems, or even if you just want to make sure it gets its regular maintenance and/or cleaning, you can trust our team of experts to do the job the right way. Our company has been building relationships and trust within this community since 1982, and we are proud to have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, thanks to our professional and reliable service. In addition to our air duct services, we also offer quality heating and cooling services. Heating, cooling, and ventilation are all interrelated, and we take pride in being able to assist you with all of the systems that keep your household running smoothly.
When you’re in need of reliable HVAC services in the Phoenix area, you can count on Champion Air to fit the bill every time. Rather than putting off the work that you need done, give us a call today and schedule an appointment with someone from our team.
