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If you’re like most homeowners, your forced-air heating and cooling system uses air ducts to deliver warm or cool air to various rooms in your home. A home’s ductwork can be easy to forget about because it’s typically out of sight and, therefore, out of mind. However, this series of ducts can play a crucial role in how comfortable your home is and how much energy it wastes.
Here are 3 things you might not know about your home’s ductwork:
1. Your ductwork could be responsible for ramping up your energy bills and causing your HVAC system to wear out faster.
According to ENERGY STAR, the average home loses around 20 to 30 percent of the air moving through its duct system. This air loss is due to problems like holes, leaks, and ducts that are poorly connected. When your ductwork loses air, this means that your HVAC system must run for longer cycles to get your home to a comfortable temperature. Not only does this increase your energy bills, but it also puts increased wear and tear on your HVAC equipment.
2. Leaky ductwork can allow mold to grow inside of your air ducts.
Air ducts with holes and gaps don’t just let air out. They can also allow moisture and mold spores in. Keep in mind that ductwork also tends to get quite dusty inside as air blows through it, and that dust can accumulate over time. When you combine moisture and dust, you have a humid environment with a food source that will allow mold to grow. This can lead to mold growth inside of your air ducts, revealed by a foul, musty odor coming from your air vents.
3. Ductwork can be flexible and easy to damage.
When you think of ductwork, you might imagine the large, sturdy, commercial ductwork that’s large enough for an adult to crawl through in Hollywood action movies. In reality, commercial and residential ductwork tends to be much smaller and easier to damage.
Rather than rectangular tunnels of metal, lots of homes contain ductwork made of coiling metal wire (similar to a giant Slinky) surrounded by a metallic jacket. Sometimes these air ducts are wrapped in fiberglass insulation. This ductwork can be easily damaged by rodents, squirrels, and raccoons that have invaded a home’s attic or crawl space.
Duct Services in Milford, CT
Whether your home’s air ducts need to be cleaned or replaced, our HVAC specialists at Tri-City Heating and Cooling have got you covered. Get in touch with our team today by contacting us online or giving us a call at (203) 303-5700.