How to Tell If You Have Leaks in Your Air Ducts
The majority of your air ducts are going to be sealed inside your walls so you might not give them much thought. Most people assume that they are properly working, unless there is a noticeable difference in heating or cooling coming from the vents. But even if your HVAC system is effectively cooling or heating your home, those ducts still might be leaking, which means that you are likely paying far more to heat or cool your home than you should be. Below are some ways on how to tell if you have leaks in your air ducts.
1. Your rooms are difficult to heat or cool
No matter how long you run the AC during the summer, you just can’t seem to keep a room comfortable. In the winter, you find yourself running the heat all day and all night, just to keep yourself from freezing to death! Especially if your system has efficiently heated or cooled your rooms before, the inability to keep your entire house or even just a specific room comfortable is a good sign that you have a leak somewhere in your system.
2. Your rooms feel stuffy
One of the primary functions of your HVAC system is to cycle the air in your house, keeping it fresh. If you have started to notice that your rooms are starting to feel stuffy, there is the possibility that the fresh air your system should be pumping into your rooms is leaking out of your ducts before it makes it to your rooms. The leaks cause the air to unevenly distribute into your home.
3. An unexpected rise in your energy bills
No matter what type of power you use in your home, if you have seen an increase in the cost of keeping your home comfortable, whether it is an increase or a steady, but higher than average increase, this could be due to leaks in your air ducts. When the home is not receiving all the potential air your system is providing, you will have to run your system longer or at a higher or lower temperature. When your system has gaps or holes, it will not work efficiently and you’ll find yourself leaking not just air, but money, too.
