How To Know Your Home Needs New Ductwork
7 Signs You Need To Replace Your Home’s Air Ducts
Air ducts may seem fairly insignificant to your comfort, but they carry all the conditioned air in your Palm Beach home.
If they’re dirty, damaged, or contaminated with pests, mold, or allergens, they can significantly impact your air quality and the performance of your HVAC system.
To keep your home healthy and comfortable, consider replacing your air ducts if you notice any of these signs of major ductwork problems.
Inefficient Cooling or Heating
If your air ducts lack insulation in areas like attics or crawl spaces, or if the ducts are damaged and leaking, they can force your HVAC system to work harder to keep your home comfortable.
This decreases the efficiency of your system and can shorten its service life.
High Utility Costs
When your HVAC performance is hampered by ductwork problems, it will lose efficiency. This leads to higher heating and cooling costs throughout the year. If you notice higher-than-normal utility bills, have your HVAC system serviced and your ductwork inspected.
Poor Air Circulation
When your home has hot spots, areas of stagnant air, or poor airflow in one or more rooms, it may indicate that your air ducts are damaged, partially blocked, or poorly designed. Restore proper air balance and circulation with professionally installed ductwork.
Mold or Allergen Contamination
The dark, damp interior of air ducts can be the perfect place for allergens to collect and mold and mildew to grow. These air contaminants can worsen allergies or asthma symptoms, but they can also cause eye, nose, and throat irritation in those without existing respiratory conditions.
For a clean, healthy home, consider replacing contaminated ductwork.
Excessive Dust in Your Home
If your return ducts are leaking or damaged, they may draw in dust from around the home, as well as unconditioned spaces, and continually recirculate it. This makes it harder to keep your home clean and can affect those with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions.
Pest Contamination
Air ducts make convenient nesting areas and transportation corridors for pests like rodents, spiders, or insects. If your ducts have been contaminated with pests and pest droppings, it’s best to replace them or at least clean and sanitize them.
Visibly Damaged Ductwork
Whether your air ducts are made of sheet metal, fiberglass, duct board, or flexible ducting, they can suffer enough damage to affect the performance of your HVAC system. From cracks and leaks to crushed or kinked sections, loose joints, or missing insulation, anything that affects airflow or causes heat gains or losses can decrease your system’s efficiency.
For the best results, install new ductwork using industry best practices like straight runs, proper support, and a minimal number of elbows, tees, and bends.
Duct Installation & Replacement in West Palm Beach
When you’re concerned about the condition of the air ducts in your Florida home, turn to our HVAC experts at Hopkins Air Conditioning. We can evaluate your ductwork and recommend the best solutions for your needs, from simple duct cleaning and repairs to complete duct replacement.
Our company has served the West Palm Beach area since 1988, and we offer a full line of air conditioning, heating, and indoor air quality services. We’re NATE- and NCI-certified, and we specialize in complex duct design and installations.
With our A+ rating from the BBB, three Angi Super Service awards, and excellent reviews throughout the Palm Beach area, you can count on us for great service and professional results.
Call today or contact us online to learn if it’s time to replace the air ducts in your Palm Beach home.
