Are Your Ducts Leaking? Here’s Why That Matters

If you have a central heating or air conditioning system in
your home, then it likely relies on a system of ductwork to do its job. With
ductwork often hidden behind walls, in crawlspaces, or even up the attic, it
can be hard to know when there’s a problem. This is where The Maynard Man comes
in!

We don’t expect you to go and check on your ducts yourself.
First off, they’re not easy to access. Secondly, you don’t have the tools and
you likely don’t have the training to know what you’re looking for. There are
signs that your ducts are leaking, and we’ll get to that below. In the
meantime, read on as we uncover how duct leaks happen and why that’s a problem.

How Ductwork Develops Leaks

Ductwork can accumulate damage from home jobs like
remodeling, from pests in the attic or crawlspace chewing on it, or even from
intensely hot temperatures in the attic creating pinhole leaks.

Sometimes—actually, pretty frequently—ducts can develop
damage and subsequent leaks from wear and tear it accumulates throughout the years.
For example, let’s say there’s a bold holding two pieces of ductwork wears
down, a leak will typically form by default.

Why Leaky Ducts Are Bad News

Leaky ductwork is a problem because it reduces the
efficiency of your air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump system. This leak can
pull conditioned air out of the ductwork or pull unconditioned air in. either
way, you’re going to have uneven cooling and heating throughout your home.

Both of these problems threaten the energy efficiency of
your HVAC systems, making them essentially work harder to do their job, while
raising your monthly utility bills and increasing the chance of a serious
breakdown.

How to Spot Problems

Like we said above, there are some indicators you can watch out for to signal duct leaks. If
you discover any of what we are about to share, please give The Maynard Man a
call right away. The sooner we come out, the sooner we can conduct professional
duct testing and sealing. And before you ask, no, store-bought duct tape is not adequate for repairing HVAC
ductwork, even though the name would have you believe otherwise.

Signs You Have Leaky Ducts:

  • Uneven
    Cooling or Heating throughout Your Home:
    Is that room in the back of the
    house staying cold in the wintertime while other areas are warming up? That
    duct might be damaged.
  • Strange
    Noises:
    Duct leaks mean duct damage. You may hear intense rattling or
    flapping while your system operates, if there is damage.
  • Reduced
    Airflow:
    If you put your hands next to a vent and notice the air is very
    weak, it’s likely caused by leaky ducts.
  • Higher-Than-Average
    Utility Bills:
    Take a look at your energy bills. Are you paying a lot more
    than you were this same time last year? Or maybe you’re paying far more than
    your neighbors are. These are both signs that something is causing your HVAC system to work inefficiently.

Need a Helping Hand, Call The Maynard Man! We are your “Clean Air, Clean Water, Clean Energy Expert.” Contact us today for professional duct testing and sealing in Nashville, TN.

Skip to content