If we pretend your central air conditioner is the heart of your home, then the ducts make up the circulatory system, delivering oxygen and cooled air through the body of your home. Luckily, our circulatory system doesn’t leak without us noticing it, but our ductwork does have a tendency to encounter issues that aren’t immediately apparent.
Because of this, it’s possible you may have problems in your ducts right now, and that’s not good if you plan to avoid high energy bills. If that’s the case, we have some methods to help spot them.
Energy Bill Spikes
One way to detect if you have duct problems is not by looking at the ducts at all. Instead, look at the energy bill!
It’s estimated up to 30% of energy can be lost through leaks and disconnects in the ductwork. It makes sense if you think about it—the ducts are supposed to be airtight tunnels to transport air from one area to every other area in the house. Just a small leak will force your AC to run a little bit longer to meet the temperature on the thermostat. With multiple leaks occurring throughout the years, ;the air loss has the potential to add up to a hefty portion on your energy bill.
Low Airflow
Turn on your air conditioner for a few minutes. Then go to the room of the house furthest from the AC and put your hand up to the air vent. What do you feel? Nothing? That’s a definite sign there’s an issue with the ducts.
For the same reasons stated above, significant tears or disconnects in the ducts can prevent air from reaching your rooms. You might first notice this problem because these rooms simply aren’t becoming cool fast enough.
You’re Dusting More Than Usual
Does it suddenly seem like your tables and shelves need dusting more often than before? It’s possible you have some significant leaks in your ducts bringing in dust and dirt from the attic. As stated above, leaks equal lost money, so it’s worth the effort to get it checked out as soon as possible by an AC repair service in Frisco, TX.
What about the overall cleanliness? While dust and dirt in the air ducts aren’t a huge problem on their own, if your ducts have never been cleaned after several years, sooner is better than later. The right amount of humidity can turn that dust into mold, and then you’ll have mold spores floating around your home.
Lowered Air Quality
Although most duct leak issues are harmless, it’s worth stating the location of the duct leak can significantly lower indoor air quality. For example, if the duct leak is near various chemicals like paint thinners or fertilizers, it can carry those fumes into your home. If you smell any of these hazardous chemicals in other parts of the home, there could be an issue with your ductwork.