Here’s an astonishing fact for you: on average, in an American home, there are so many gaps and cracks in the ductwork that up to 30% of the home’s heated and cooled air is lost. Wasted! It escapes from the ducts into places like the attic or between walls, where it isn’t doing you any good.
Are you astonished? Are you perhaps upset? Do you feel like you might have been paying far too much for heating and cooling?
The good news is that ductwork can be repaired. On occasion, due to widespread deterioration, a section of ductwork might need to be replaced. But for the most part, the cracks, holes, tears, or gaps in ductwork are caused by isolated incidents.
What in the world could be causing all this damage to the ducts in your home? There are a few common culprits. We’ll give you a rundown.
1: Mishaps During Duct Installation
When ducts are installed by general maintenance workers, or when homeowners attempt DIY duct installation, it’s extremely easy for small things to go wrong. And those small things can make a huge difference down the line! It could be a poorly-placed nail or screw causing a puncture, or insufficient support allowing the duct to wobble and pull loose.
When ducts are installed by trained, qualified, and experienced HVAC technicians, these mishaps can be avoided, thanks to the expertise of the installers. If your ducts weren’t installed by HVAC professionals, you should have a thorough inspection and rectify any issues. Any time you need work done on your ducts, make sure the people doing it have proper qualifications.
2: Mishaps During Home Improvement
Any work that is done in your home can run the risk of causing inadvertent duct damage. Every time drywall is penetrated by a screw or nail, every time panels are removed or replaced, every time work is done on plumbing or electrical work or carpentry in your home, the ducts are vulnerable. What can you do about that?
Schedule a duct inspection. Get as much information as you can about the location and layout of your ducts. Once the existing problems are repaired, you’ll be much better able to prevent further damage in the future with that knowledge.
3: Pest Problems
It’s impressive how wide the variety of potential ductwork pests is. Insects may fill the space with ant, bee, or wasp nests or cockroach colonies. Rodents like mice, rats, and squirrels may nibble their way in and use the isolated space for nesting or nut storage. Even more alarming, snakes sometimes squiggle in to soak up some warmth!
Any of these creatures can damage your ducts. If you’ve ever suspected that you’ve got critters in your ductwork, thanks to unpleasant odors or sounds of movement, you need to have your ducts checked and any damage repaired by a qualified expert in all things HVAC in Auburn, GA.
Reach out to Wall Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. with any inquiries or to make an appointment.