Air ducts are a critical part of your home HVAC system. While the air conditioner produces warm and cool air for your home, the air ducts distribute that air throughout and into the various rooms. Like your air conditioner, air ducts can be damaged over time and need regular maintenance to continue working properly. Damaged air ducts can cause your air conditioning system to work harder over time, causing wear and tear on the entire system. Variables like age, poor maintenance, animals, and more can cause damage to your duct system.
If you suspect your air ducts are damaged, call the Lyons Air and Heat experts to schedule a free inspection. One of our experienced Murphy, TX HVAC technicians will evaluate your ducts and help you decide if it’s time for a replacement or just a simple repair. Call us today at (214) 432-2859 to schedule an appointment.
What Causes Damaged Ductwork?
Tears in your ducts can cause dust to seep into the system and cool air to escape, causing your air conditioner to work twice as hard as well as excess wear and tear and higher energy bills.
Since air ducts are hidden behind walls and crawl spaces, damage to the ductwork can go unnoticed until it’s too late. Listed below are some of the leading causes of damaged ducts.
Age
Like all appliances, your air duct system has a shelf life. Ducts can last anywhere from 20 to 25 years. If your system is older, call Lyons Air and Heat to schedule a routine maintenance check to see if your ducts have reached the age where a replacement would be more beneficial than a repair. If you’re experiencing higher energy costs or low air quality unrelated to your AC, it might be time for a duct replacement.
Rust
Many duct systems are made from aluminum or galvanized sheet metal because it’s affordable, flexible, and easy to clean. The only downside is that it is susceptible to rust. When the air moving through your ducts is high in moisture, that moisture has nowhere to go and will settle in the vents and oxidize the sheet metal. This moisture can come from several factors, such as living in a high-humidity climate or your AC is too large and cannot dehumidify the air properly.
Blockages
If an inexperienced technician cleans your air ducts, they can do more damage than good. The fiberglass can become exposed, partially blocking the airway and decreasing airflow throughout the home.
Mold and Airborne Contaminants
Mold and other airborne contaminants may not cause damage to your ducts, but they can lead to poor air quality. If your household notices more allergies, it might be time to get your ducts cleaned. It’s essential to schedule a cleaning as soon as you suspect mold or other airborne contaminants are invading your ductwork. If mold continues to grow in your ducts, it can cause irreparable damage and lead to the need for a total air duct replacement.
Pests
If you hear unusual noises from your ducts, you might have a pest intrusion. Mice, squirrels, and raccoons pose the most significant threat as they are drawn to the moisture and warmth in the ductwork and will build nests. These rodents build their nests with flammable materials like leaves and twigs, which can create a fire hazard while they trap heat. Raccoons can even cause a complete collapse of the ductwork from their weight. If you suspect an animal intrusion in your ducts, resolving the problem quickly before more damage occurs is important.
Collapsed Sections
Ductwork exposed in attics or basements is susceptible to impact damage leading to collapsed sections. This damage can be caused by remodeling or installation and can remain hidden until a professional ductwork inspection. Over time, damage to the ductwork can lead to weakened joints and leaky connections, causing poor airflow within the home.
Flex-Duct Damage
Mechanical damage from aggressive ductwork cleaning can cause flex-duct damage. When this happens, fiberglass is exposed and released into the air causing poor air quality and breathing issues.
Leaks
Air leaks in your ductwork can allow conditioned air to seep through gaps or cracks before reaching your home. These gaps and cracks will allow dust and other airborne contaminants to flow through your ductwork and into your home. If some rooms are harder to cool or heat than others, you might have an air duct leak. Other signs of a leak are higher energy costs and increased dust floating around your home.
Lack of Maintenance
Your ductwork requires routine maintenance to ensure that it continues working properly. When periodic maintenance is neglected, you may experience preventable ductwork problems. Scheduling regular maintenance on your entire HVAC system, including the air ducts, can catch any problems before they cause damage. When you become a member of Lyons Air and Heat’s “Cool Club,” our HVAC maintenance plan, inspecting your ductwork is part of the plan. One of our experienced Farmersville HVAC technicians will conduct routine maintenance on your entire air conditioning system twice a year.
Signs Your Ductwork May Need Repair or Replacement
Since air ducts are hidden behind walls, it’s hard to tell if your ductwork is damaged. If you’re experiencing any of the problems listed above in addition to higher energy bills, low airflow, unusual noises, and dust throughout your home, it’s time to call the experts at Lyons Air and Heat. Our Terrell HVAC technicians will evaluate your AC and ductwork to find what’s causing your heating and cooling problems.
Air Duct Replacement in Rockwall, Texas
Replacing your ductwork may not be a top priority, but it will benefit your home in the long run. You should never underestimate the importance of good ductwork. Damaged ductwork can cause many problems within the home other than higher energy costs. Your family might suffer from allergies and other respiratory problems caused by the damage. Once you’ve replaced the damaged ducts, you and your family can breathe easier because with new, clean ducts comes clean air. Call the Highland Park HVAC techs at Lyons Air and Heat to make your home comfortable again. Schedule a maintenance call by contacting us at (214) 432-2859 or fill out our contact form online.
