Have your energy bills gone up recently? Is your living room much cooler than your bedroom? While most homeowners would suspect a problem with their cooling unit, almost no one considers the condition of the air ducts.
These large tubes represent a roadway for the conditioned air to travel from the main unit to all rooms in the house. Nevertheless, when this roadway is obstructed by debris, the HVAC system stops performing its function efficiently. There are numerous heating and cooling companies around New Lenox, such as ssmechanical.co, offering professional repair of air ducts. These are the most common signs of a ductwork problem and the reasons for calling the professionals.
Signs of a problem
Homeowners in New Lenox should pay close attention to the condition of their air ducts in search of signs of faultiness. For instance, one of the most frequent malfunction signs is the difference in temperature across rooms. If a single room is significantly warmer than the rest of your home, your ducts might not be delivering enough cooled air. The absence of airflow coming from the vents is an important warning sign, indicating that something might be obstructing the ductwork. Another symptom pointing out to compromised ductwork is the frequent change of filters. These should be replaced a few times annually, not every single month. If your filters get surprisingly filthy at the end of each month, you need to have your ductwork checked.
Moreover, the condition of the registers should be regularly inspected as well. In case you notice streaks of dust at the vents shortly after cleaning them, you might be dealing with a leak. Also, broken, or crushed ducts are an unmistakable sign; you should have them fixed. It is of the utmost importance for your ductwork system to be efficient. Otherwise, you would pay high utility bills in the summer months while still not getting the cool indoor temperature you hoped for. In the event of a ductwork hole, approximately twenty to thirty percent of the conditioned air ends up in the basement or the attic. Visit this site for some practical tips on repairing holes in HVAC ducts.
There is no use in having a cool attic or basement, as these household areas are uninhabited by residents. Additionally, the poor function of the ductwork wears down the entire HVAC system much faster than normal. Whenever you hear some odd sounds coming from the air ducts or the cooling unit, do not hesitate to contact the local HVAC professionals.
Common issues
All the above-mentioned signs point out some form of air duct faultiness. For example, a hole in the ductwork is a clear sign of a leak, caused by improper installation or damage done by a rodent. When having a leak in the system, the air fails to move efficiently, which induces a difference in temperature between rooms.
Inadequate insulation is another common air duct problem, preventing the HVAC system from reaching the desired temperature. Also, there might be an unbalanced airflow if one of the vents blows significantly more air than the others. Many homeowners in New Lenox deal with uninvited rodents and insects, which chew through their ductwork and cause severe damage.
How can professionals help you?
When suspecting one of these problems in your home, make sure to call professional HVAC technicians to inspect your ducts. These experts will start the inspection by assessing the condition of the main unit, after which they will continue inspecting the branch ducts. Any damage done to the insulation in the form of mold and damp spots requires immediate repair.
Upon detecting a ductwork leak, professional technicians use aluminum foil tape to cover the hole and a mastic sealant to patch it up. HVAC experts will make sure your ductwork insulation has an optimal vapor barrier to prevent moisture and mold issues. They also test the CO detectors, which serve to alert homeowners of a carbon monoxide problem. These workers will also decide whether you need a professional ductwork cleaning by investigating the inside with a flashlight.
Final word
Your ductwork deserves the best treatment. Do not fail to provide it!
