Understanding Air Duct Leaks and How They Affect Your Home

Dealing with a dripping leak in your ceiling is never ideal. It’s always a sign that a bigger problem might be hiding under the surface. The same principle applies to leaky air ducts. But how exactly do air duct leaks happen and how will they affect your home? Let’s dive into the world of duct leaks to find out.

The Function of Air Ducts

Let’s start by diving into the role of air ducts in relation to the rest of the HVAC system. If the different parts of your HVAC system are like a body, the air ducts are like the veins that help circulate blood, but instead, the ducts circulate cool and warm air throughout the home. With that comparison in mind, you can see how air duct leaks can be bad news.

Causes of Air Duct Leaks

Are the rooms in your home feeling too warm when it’s hot outside or too cold when it’s chilly? Is there a sudden build-up of dust and debris by the vents? If you find yourself saying, “Yes!” to either question, it means you’re probably dealing with leaky ducts. But how exactly did this happen? Here are the most likely reasons why you might be dealing with this predicament:

Pest Infestation

One of the most common reasons why you might be having unreliable air ducts could be that a critter or two have made themselves at home in the walls of your house. Large rodents, including squirrels, can sometimes find their way inside, so consider if you’ve heard any strange scampering sounds coming from the walls and ceilings of your home.

The Toll of Time

Depending on the age of your home and its infrastructure, wear and tear due to the passage of time could be the most straightforward culprits. This wear and tear can manifest as loose ductwork or damaged seals. You’ll want to have a technician inspect the state of your air ducts so they can know whether repairs or replacements are the solution.

Pressure Problems

Finally, unbalanced pressure in the ducts can make your ducts more prone to leaking. To determine if this is the cause, a pressure test is required. This process involves having a technician use a digital manometer that tracks leaks by measuring airflow loss throughout your air duct system.

Settled Foundation

If the foundation of your home has settled (started to sink), it can also compromise the structure of your air ducts, making leaks more likely to occur. However, you should only worry about this if your home is built on unstable soil.

The Impact of Leaky Air Ducts

Understanding the causes of air duct leaks is one thing, but it’s another to grasp how they impact the condition of your home. One way this issue disrupts your home comfort is by interfering with temperature control, making the thermostat ineffective. You’ll also be faced with the inconvenience of unusually high utility bills. Decreased indoor air quality is also a potential outcome of neglecting to address duct leaks.

Getting Your Ducts Back in a Row

If you’re dealing with these issues as a result of damaged ductwork, it’s important to know what solutions are available. Before you think of putting together a DIY duct repair kit, it’s important to know that leaving this job to professionals will ultimately save you from higher expenses and more heartache. As far as what those solutions involve, duct sealing is one strategy that helps prevent leaks in the first place. An experienced technician will be able to tell if repair or replacement is necessary.

When To Call Our Pros!

If you’re dealing with inconsistent temperatures throughout your home and all troubleshooting efforts have been exhausted, the time has come to call our pros at Fresh Air Duct Cleaning. We thoroughly check every part of your duct system for leaks and fix them on the spot. Contact us today or give us a call at  214-239-1832 to book our stellar services.