Air ducts are an essential part of your HVAC system. After all, without ductwork, your heated and cooled airflow wouldn’t get very far from your furnace or A/C. Though, you don’t fare much better with leaky ducts, mold-infested ducts and/or poor duct design. If you suspect or are certain your comfort, pocketbook and ducts need help, read on to learn what you need to know about duct replacement.
Identifying Poor Duct Design
Air ducts are usually installed outside the living spaces, but that doesn’t mean duct problems aren’t easy to spot, hear or smell. Fallen duct joints are obvious signs of duct problems. Though, so are musty odors and rattling noises from the air vents. Take a tour of your home paying attention to duct runs, rattling noises and musty or earthy odors (which indicate mold development).
Duct Replacement
In general, ductwork should be replaced when you are installing a new furnace or cooling system. This logic falls in line with designing, sizing and selecting HVAC components that work together efficiently for overall success. If you are replacing the evaporator coil, your new one is likely to be larger than the old model, which requires substantial duct modification.
Moreover, if the sum of repairing your ailing ducts, duct cleaning and the estimated energy losses exceed the investment in new ducts, do yourself a favor and replace your ductwork.
Will Duct Repair or Cleaning Suffice?
There are many variables to consider when considering the time and expense of remedying deteriorating ducts.
- Are building cavities used to convey airflow?
- Are your ducts infested with mold?
- What is the percentage of air leakage?
- Are any duct leaks located near combustion appliances, which could backdraft deadly gases into your home?
Not all duct systems need to be replaced, of course. The best route to take is a professional duct evaluation by a trusted contractor.
If you need assistance determining the condition or your ductwork, please contact us at CCAC today. We’ve proudly served south Texas residents since 1979!
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ductwork and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.
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