Ventilation ducts with air leaks are a major source of air conditioning and heating inefficiency in homes. In fact, the ductwork can lose up to 30% of the air moving through it due to small gaps and holes. If your ducts are suffering from air leaks, you’ll want to have professionals seal them up and restore the HVAC system to full efficiency. (Yes, you must have professionals handle this job; store-bought duct tape will not take care of it!)
The big question is how to tell that you have duct leaks in the first place. Your ductwork may be hidden, but there are other signs to look for:
- Spikes in air conditioning and heating costs: The loss of air from the ductwork means that your heating and cooling system has to send out even more conditioned air to make up for it. This will cause a steep rise in your energy costs. If you’re losing 30% of the air in the ventilation system, you’re paying for a lot of comfort that you’re not getting.
- Rattling sounds from the vents: Damage to ductwork can sometimes lead to odd noises from the ducts as they expand and contract due to temperature changes. Regardless of what’s making this noise, it needs to be investigated.
- Musty vent smells: Leaks in the ducts will allow air from closed-in parts of the house into the ventilation system and then out through the ducts. The air in spots such as between the walls and in the attic will have a musty odor, and when you detect those smells from the vents, it’s time to call on professionals.
- Low indoor air quality: The musty air can also bring with it dust and dirt, perhaps even mold, that will lead to a drop in your household air quality.
Call on Comfort Flow Heating for professional air sealing services in Eugene, OR.
