Signs That It’s Time To Replace Air Ducts
Heating and cooling a home is one of the most expensive operating costs of owning or renting a home. Repair and replacement bills can also be high, adding to the expense of operating an HVAC system. One of the things that most homeowners overlook is the condition of their ductwork.
The ductwork is the part of an air conditioning system that distributes the conditioned air around the house. Since all of the air inside the home will eventually pass through the ductwork, it must be clean and in serviceable condition. After years of service, the ductwork will deteriorate, and homeowners will need to consider air duct replacement.
Fortunately, there are signs that homeowners can look for to know when ducts ought to be replaced.
Old Ductwork
Metal ductwork lasts for 10-15 years. After this time, it becomes more likely that the ductwork is outdated and can cause more problems. By 20 years, ductwork has outlived its usefulness and should be replaced. Coincidentally, this is the average life expectancy of an air conditioner, so homeowners shouldn’t be surprised when an HVAC technician recommends air duct replacement as they install a new air conditioner furnace.
After so many years in service, the inside of ducts can be dusty, moldy, and rusty and contribute to poor air quality.
Inflated Utility Bills
One of the things that happen as air ducts age is higher utility bills. When ductwork is installed, it is screwed together, sealed, and then insulated. Expansion and contraction of the ducts repeatedly over the years causes the joints to become weak and leaky. Conditioned air can leak out of the joints and condition attics or crawl spaces instead of the home’s interior.
Additionally, insulation put on the ducts during installation can fall off or degrade to the point that it isn’t insulating well. The result of these issues is that utility bills rise because the system isn’t working efficiently anymore.
Poor Quality Indoor Air
Good indoor air quality is necessary to maintain the health of the people living inside the home. Poor quality air contributes to allergies, asthma, respiratory infections, and even some skin conditions.
The elements of good quality indoor air are:
- Proper humidity
- Low particle load
- Temperature
- Quality sleep
When ductwork begins to fail, it will contribute to adverse conditions for all three of the parameters for good indoor air. Old air ducts contribute to low-quality indoor air by allowing leakage at the joints of supply and return lines. When return lines become compromised, musty air from crawl spaces and dusty air from attics get pulled into the supply air. When supply ducts leak, conditioned air doesn’t make it to its intended destination.
The result is air that isn’t at the proper temperature that may contain dust and mold. If conditions are allowed to continue, mold can continue to grow inside the ducts, further aggravating respiratory issues.
About Air Now
Air Now is a multi-generation, family-run business serving Sarasota, FL since 1946. Upfront and honest pricing of their quality air conditioning services set them apart from their competitors. Never pay overtime rates when their technicians work at customer homes.
