3 Common Causes of Ductwork Problems in Your Home

Your Largo, FL, home’s ductwork delivers the cooled and dehumidified air from your air conditioner to each room in your home. A problem with the ducts could have a big impact on your comfort and electricity bills. As your HVAC contractors, we check the ducts during air conditioning tune-ups to find and fix any issues. Here are three of the most common causes of duct problems.

Loose Connections

An improper ductwork design could lead to loose connections between different segments of the ducts. Even a small gap between segments could allow a considerable amount of the cooled air produced by your air conditioner to leak into the attic, walls and other areas. This wastes energy and causes your air conditioner to work harder in order to reach the temperature set on your thermostat.

Failed Seals

Between the end of the duct and each air vent in a room, there are seals. There are also seals between duct segments. The seals are made of a putty-like material. These seals make sure the cooled air doesn’t leak out before it reaches your living areas. Seals wear out over time, especially when you live in a hot and humid place like Largo. Professional ductwork repairs include replacing failed seals and damaged duct segments.

Dust or Dirt Buildup

In addition to furniture or boxes blocking air vents, your air ducts could get blocked with dust or debris. According to the Department of Energy, dust buildup can block the airflow through vents. This impacts energy efficiency and your comfort. Dust or dirt can get into the ducts because of a dirty air filter or from a gap in pieces of ductwork. When the airflow is hindered, less cooled air gets into your living areas. This overworks your air conditioner and wastes electricity.

To learn more about common duct problems and what causes them, check out Arctic Air Systems’ duct repair services, or call us for further details.