From the time you install your HVAC system, you would fancy a comfortable temperature indoors round the year. However, you might run into situations where you find one of your rooms not heating adequately during the winter, or your bedroom AC not providing the expected cooling levels. Well, this might point to a need for duct replacement in your HVAC system.
Established companies such as those found on this page recommend timely HVAC duct replacement to ensure adequate ventilation and cooling efficiency at your home. In this article, you will gain comprehensive knowledge on when you need a replacement.
This Is How Air Duct Functions
Air ducts are responsible for carrying conditioned air to your interiors. This air might be heated or cool, depending on your location, season, and preferences. To ensure the optimal efficiency of your HVAC system, you need to ensure that this path is clear of dirt or debris. Holes, crushes, or other detours in the path robs the system of its efficiency.
Leakages in your air ducts make the HVAC systems work harder, leading to higher energy bills. Every room should have two different types of air ducts: return and supply. Naturally, a damaged or malfunctioning air duct requires timely replacement.
Signs Of Problem In Your HVAC Air Ducts Leading To Hvac Inefficiency
Well, it’s easy to detect a poorly performing HVAC system when it fails to maintain the desired temperature. Firstly, you need to inspect the air ducts, which lie at the root of most of these issues. Here are some common ductwork issues that might require you to go for a replacement.
Wrong Size
At times, homeowners simply overlook their ductwork while upgrading the AC unit or furnace. The new appliance might require a different size of ductwork, and the existing system may prove to be incompatible. In case your ducts prove to be too small or too large, system inefficiency might creep in.
This may cause potential damage to your AC unit or furnace. Therefore, you might appoint professionals every time you decide to get a new cooling or heating appliance. The experts would inspect the ductwork and replace them if needed.
Leaks In Air Ducts
Air ducts may develop tears or leakages due to various reasons. Before the situation aggravates, make sure to get the air ducts replaced. Hiring a reputed contractor would be a logical move in these cases. The professionals carry adequate equipment and experience to do the needful.
Misplaced Vents
The vents present in your ductwork serve as the point of exit for air, both cool and heated in various chambers of your home. However, the incorrect location of vents might lead to inefficiency in the system.
Ideally, you should get the vents installed close to the exterior walls or your windows. This ensures that your temperature can be seamlessly controlled. If you have misplaced vents, you may have to adjust or replace the existing system.
Return Air Vent Issues
The return vents are responsible for collecting warm or cold air from your interiors. This air reaches the AC unit or furnace for cooling or heating, respectively. In case the vents get clogged or misplaced, you are likely to encounter airflow issues.
The system would not have adequate air circulating through your interiors. Unless you get the vents replaced, your HVAC system would not be competent to produce an adequate amount of treated air to achieve the desired temperature.
When Should You Replace Your Air Ducts?
You may consider replacing your air ducts under the following conditions.
Hot Or Cold Points
Different parts of your home might experience hot or cold points. This might be caused due to faults in your ductwork, like tears, clogs, and leaks. Besides, ducts of the wrong size may also be the reason for disproportionate heating or cooling.
Noises
At times, you might hear unusual noises from your ductwork. Occasional sounds are common, and this should not alarm you. However, if this noise mounts to whistling, rattling, or squeaking in the ductwork, you need to seek professional assistance.
Certain holes, loose sections, or tears might lead to such noises. Eventually, these situations point to duct replacement requirements.
Tangled air ducts
Routine maintenance of these ducts might help you detect tangled air ducts. Left unchecked for long, this might lead to damages and efficiency in your HVAC system. Under such circumstances, the best option is to get new ducts installed. Otherwise, it would pose a threat to the entire system.
Things To Keep In Mind
With your system already installed, it’s easy to forget what’s operating in the background. It’s only when you feel the discomfiture that you realize the value of timely maintenance.
Duct mastic often turns out to be messy, and they refuse to leave your clothes. Unless you have proper gear at your disposal, it’s not recommended to set your hands on air duct replacement. Besides, installing ducts in certain places in your home like the basement would make them colder.
You might also consider insulating the basement walls and the ducts. Apart from this, drains and water pipes in unconditioned places might burst due to freezing when you completely insulate the heat ducts. The reason is, you would have no heat altogether to stop the areas from freezing during the winter months.
Endnote
Once you have carried out your initial visual inspection, you need to decide whether you need to go for a repair or replacement of the air ducts. Households willing to save costs may opt for repairs. However, the problem might return after a few months to haunt you. In these cases, you have a replacement as a better and long-term solution.
It’s always advisable to hire an established service provider, given that experience has no substitute. Besides, HVAC systems are sophisticated enough, and duct replacement lies beyond the laymen’s tasks. You might end up damaging the system, resulting in voided warranties. This explains why most households count on experts. A professional consultation with the established service providers would help you make an intelligent decision.
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