Even though your air ducts are tucked away out of sight, it’s important to pay attention to their performance. To ensure your air conditioner and heater operate as efficiently as possible, you must make sure your duct system is fully intact, but since it’s tough to get your eyes on, that can be a challenge.
Fortunately, damaged ductwork tends to produce a few highly noticeable signs that it’s in need of repair or replacement. Even if you can’t get a good look at your air ducts, you’ll almost certainly notice one of the red flags below.
Abnormally High Cooling & Heating Bills
Have your energy bills been getting more expensive with no apparent explanation? Defective ductwork may be a primary culprit. Mysterious increases in cooling and heating expenses are often caused by minor ductwork leaks that allow small amounts of air to escape the duct system.
That air never makes it into your living spaces, so your a/c unit or furnace ends up working harder than necessary to keep your home at a constant temperature. And longer the HVAC system must run, the higher your energy bills will get.
Frequent HVAC Cycling
If your air conditioner or heater seems to cycle on and off more frequently than usual — even though the temperature outside hasn’t changed drastically — ductwork leaks may be the culprit. When air can escape the ducts, the HVAC system must run longer than normal just to keep your home at the temperature setting on your thermostat.
Frequent cycling can also occur when your thermostat isn’t functioning properly, so you may need to get that checked out too. Scheduling a brief inspection with a heating and cooling professional can alert you to any ductwork issues that are present, as well as the need for thermostat repair or replacement.
Excessive Dust Accumulation
While it’s virtually impossible to eliminate dust from your home interior, excessive dust accumulation isn’t normal and may be a product of defective ductwork. When your ductwork develops cracks or holes, the damaged areas can allow dust from inside your walls and ceiling to enter the ducts.
When your HVAC system forces air through the ductwork, that air naturally pushes the dust into your living spaces. If you haven’t had your ductwork cleaned in years (or ever) or you don’t change your HVAC filters often enough, those issues may also play a role in excessive dust accumulation.
To fix the problem, try a three-pronged approach: Get your ducts cleaned, change your filters on a routine schedule, and get a ductwork inspection to find out if there’s damage that requires repairs.
Uneven Air Flow Throughout the House
Do some of the rooms in your house feel unusually warm or cool compared to the rest of your house? Use a thermometer to find out if that’s really the case. If it registers a temperature difference of more than a degree or two between rooms, damaged ductwork may be the culprit.
To determine whether duct leaks are causing the temperature variance throughout the home, schedule an HVAC inspection with a heating and cooling professional. If there are minor leaks, they may be eligible for repair, but if your ducts are older than 15-20 years, duct replacement is typically the best long-term solution.
Need New Ductwork in Your Central Wisconsin Home? Contact Steve’s Plumbing & Heating
Think it’s time to replace the ductwork in your Wisconsin Rapids home? Let our team at Steve’s Plumbing & Heating help you out! We specialize in ductwork repair and replacement and have served homes throughout Stevens Point, Wausau, Marshfield, and the surrounding areas for over 30 years. All of our technicians are fully licensed, insured, and bonded, and we guarantee your complete satisfaction.
To learn more about how we can help you or schedule a service appointment, feel free to request an estimate online or give us a call today at 715-421-1800.