Ductwork has a life span, and if yours is 15 years old or so, it may be time to think of replacing it, particularly if you’re planning on replacing your HVAC equipment. Often, newer HVAC equipment will require ductwork that can handle a larger volume of air passing through than the old ductwork could handle.
Following are some telltale signs that it may be time to replace your old ductwork.
1. Uneven heating and cooling.
If you’re experiencing uneven heating and cooling from room to room, it may be due to deteriorating ductwork. Over time, duct segments become disconnected as materials fail, while the ducts themselves may develop cracks and holes. In either case, the ducts will be leaking conditioned air, and also allowing unconditioned air to invade the home’s air supply. It may be possible to repair ducts that have these issues for a while, but sooner or later, you will probably need to replace them if you want more uniform comfort in your home.
2. Poor indoor air quality.
Poor indoor air quality can occur from a number of sources, but contaminants in the ductwork is one of them. As ducts crack, develop holes or the segments come apart, pollutants from the attic or basement may enter. Some of the pollutants you should be most concerned about: mold, fungus, insect particles and pollen. You don’t want these particles recirculating in your home’s air, so if the ducts can’t be repaired adequately, it’s better to replace them.
3. Too much humidity.
If your home feels too humid, and you also feel that you’ve done a good job of sealing where air might leak, it may be due to humidity entering your ductwork in unconditioned spaces. Again, if the ducts develop cracks, holes and gaps, moisture that enters the attic and basement may be drawn into the air supply. Repair them if you can, but if they’re too patched up, look into replacing them.
We’d be happy to discuss other signs of old ductwork with you at CCAC. We are Constantly Concerned About Customers in the Coastal Bend area.
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 HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.
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