Potential Ductwork Problems You'll Want to Address ASAP

Poor airflow through your ducts creates poor energy efficiency in your system. To avoid this problem and the increasing energy bills that come with it, address these common ductwork problems as soon as you notice them.

Leaks

When ductwork leaks, your system is less efficient. Loose joints, tears in adhesive or holes in the ductwork itself can all be causes of leaks. They are common at connections, around vents and near the air handler, so inspect these areas frequently. Seal any leaks you find with mastic sealant or metal tape, or get help from an HVAC professional.

Obstructions

Common ductwork problems also include obstructions. Anything inside the system blocking air flow is a problem. Common obstructions include:

• Dirty air filters
• Dirty fan blades
• Defects in flex ductwork
• Loose insulation
• Improperly opened or closed fire and vent dampers
• Clogged return air inlets

Also, keep furniture away from registers and vacuum the registers regularly to prevent problems with debris. Sometimes obstructions inside the system are hard to spot, so have your system inspected by a qualified HVAC professional regularly to find them.

Poor Duct Design

If you find that, even without leaks or obstructions, a certain room or area is not adequately cooled or heated, it may be a problem with duct design. Common problems include the absence of a return register in a room, which causes pressure imbalances, or a room that requires a lengthy duct run to access it. Your A/C contractor should be able to advise you on how to address these problems.

Your ductwork provides the path for the heated and cooled air to flow throughout your home. If you address these common ductwork problems quickly, your ducts can continue to do their job well, thus protecting you from inflated energy bills.

If you’re looking for help with making your system as efficient as possible, contact Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal. For over 40 years, we’ve been helping the people of Northwest Arkansas keep their HVAC systems running at their best.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northwest Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about ductworkand other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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