Your Leaky Ducts are Costing You This Summer
As the summer temperatures soar, so do the energy bills. As soon as you turn on the AC, you expect that crisp, cool air to provide you with comfort, not sneak out through a leaky duct system. If your energy bill is higher than usual this summer, or if your air conditioning is lacking in some shape or form, it could be a sign that you have leaky ducts.
Duct systems without proper sealing could lose your precious cold air almost as fast as your AC can crank it out. In a typical home, 20 to 40% of the cooled air that moves through the duct system is lost through leaks, holes and poorly connected tubes. Not only does this leakage make the bills higher, but it is also difficult to keep the house comfortable, no matter how low you set the thermostat.
Discovering Ductwork Problems
If you have any of the following in your home, they could be contributing to the problem:
- Uninsulated ducts in unconditioned spaces
- Disconnected, torn, or damaged ducts
- Blind-alley ducts
- Inadequate return-side ductwork
- Other evidence of supply and return-side leakage
Your duct system is a series of tubes that connects and distributes your cold air to different rooms. This means that an issue that originates in the ducts then affects the entire home. Additionally, the air quality in your home can be easily contaminated with pollution through faulty ducts. Residents are especially at risk of poor indoor air quality during the humid summer months.
What are the most common problems faulty ductwork causes?
- Reduced cooling efficiency. When your ductwork isn’t up to par, cool air can quickly seep out and escape, impacting your overall comfort.
- High energy bills. Due to escaping air, you’ll likely keep your AC running longer and more often to keep your home cool. You may not notice the overuse until your monthly utility bill shows up and appears significantly more than expected.
- Excessive dust and debris. Another big sign of leaky ducts is dust buildup around the house. Over time, it’s normal for layers of dust to appear, but if you start to notice an increase or find yourself or family members sneezing more, it could be due to your duct system.
- Moisture buildup. Moisture in the air can easily fester in uninsulated or leaky ducts and lead to mold growth and mildew. This can put the health of everyone in your home at risk. Exposure to mold can lead to respiratory issues, allergies and asthma.
- Unpleasant odors. Stale air that smells musty or mildewy can be due to moisture getting caught in your ductwork and impacting your indoor air quality.
The best way to deal with leaking ducts is by sealing and insulating them. This process can eliminate moisture and mold growth and create a strong, sealed system for your cooled air to travel through.
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to reach out to trusted and certified ductwork professionals. While some home repairs can be done DIY, we never recommend repairing ductwork without an expert nearby. This is because your ductwork is a complex system supporting every room in your home, and it can be difficult to reach and identify faulty areas without the proper tools and knowledge.
The Ductwork Experts
Bradley Mechanical has helped many homes within our community achieve outstanding performance and healthy indoor air.
We use Aeroseal to create an air-tight barrier along the ductwork that keeps cool air from escaping and humid air and other pollutants from entering. Every home has those hot rooms that just never seem to get cool. Sealing the ductwork can create a better pathway for ventilation so that every room in your home is the same, cool temperature. Humidity levels will also be much easier to control. The Aeroseal that we use is endorsed by the EPA, DOE and the Building Performance Institute. It works well to get the hard-to-reach places between floors and inaccessible spaces.
Our team injects the airborne sealant into ductwork to close holes smaller than most can spot with the naked eye. Our team of ductwork pros will walk you through our methods and recommendations to ensure you feel confident in our work.
Don’t sit through another hot, humid and expensive summer. Give us a call today to make an investment in your home performance and reduce energy bills not just this summer — but year-round.
Schedule a Home Performance Appointment Today!
