In your Corsicana home, the HVAC system consists of various components, including an indoor and outdoor unit, vents, and a ductwork system. When your system is not working right (or at all), the issue could have originated from any of these components.

Unless your heating and cooling unit has completely stopped working, one of the best places to start looking for the problem is in the air ducts.

The problem with leaky air ducts

When you step up to your thermostat and adjust the dial to a nice temperature before you go back to bed, you have a few seconds before your HVAC unit kicks on. You then have a few more seconds before you feel the cooled or heated air inside your room; that is, if everything is in working order.

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The average home in North Texas loses up to 30% of its heated or cooled air before it hits all rooms. The reason for this is leaky air ducts. The tapes and sealants used to connect the joints and sections of the duct can only last so long, and that is if they have been correctly installed in the first place and remain fully intact.

The majority of the ducts send either heated or cooled air into the different spaces of the home. Usually, there is one large duct that functions as the return to the HVAC unit itself. Every one of these ducts must be adequately sealed from air leaks to work properly and efficiently. However, sometimes these ducts can be damaged while items are being placed away for storage or by unwary homeowners self-installing phone and cable lines. Even holes chewed through the insulation and ducts by rats and/or mice could smash your air ducts flat and cause leaks.

HVAC ducts are pressurized, so any leaks that exist can be far worse and more costly than other air leaks around your house. The amount of air that escapes through a leak in a duct is magnified because of that pressurization. Therefore, inspecting and repairing any HVAC leaks in the ducts is critical to keeping the unit, and your home, efficient and safe.

Are you looking for an HVAC specialist in Corsicana, TX, to fix your leaky air ducts and get your HVAC unit running more efficiently? Schedule an appointment with Area Wide Services today or visit our HVAC repair page for more information about our services.

What are the signs of leaking air ducts?

Many things could go wrong with your HVAC’s air ducts. Some of the more common problems caused by leaky ducts in your Corsicana home include:

High utility bills: Look at your utility bills. If your utility costs are more than usual, it could be due to air duct leaks. Leaking air ducts can make your system spout precious air that you have paid into wanted locations like your attic or the basement, increasing your energy consumption and utility bills. Again, you could be losing as much as 30% of the energy your HVAC system produces through those air leaks and get a hefty bill.

A dusty home: Collapsed, broken, and leaky air ducts can pull built-up dust and spew them into your home. This can result in your home looking excessively dusty all the time. Leaky air ducts can provide an easy path of travel for dust and even some harmful contaminants and pathogens to be taken into your lungs unexpectedly. So, fixing leaky ducts is especially critical for those families with babies and young children as their body is rapidly growing and deserves air of the utmost quality to maintain proper health.

Uneven heating and cooling: Air duct leaks can result in uneven heating and cooling, making certain rooms more difficult to heat or cool than others, even if they are on the same floor.

Backdraft: Another culprit that may allow unwanted outside air into your home is the backdraft protection on your dryer exhaust outlet. These units enable the exhaust to exit the home in one direction and disallow air to come back up in the opposite direction. Make sure yours works properly, and if you don’t have one already, get one installed.

How to fix your leaky air ducts?

Accessing all of your ducts can be the trickiest part, although fixing the leaks can be rather simple.

Leaks can be found sometimes simply with just a flashlight. You can also use the “wet hand” technique – turn the HVAC unit on so the ducts become pressurized, and holding out a wet hand can lead you right to the leaks.

Hardware stores carry many types of sealing kits for ducts. Before you go to the store, though, you will need to be able to tell the salesperson helping you what material your ducts are, and how they are suspended to find the correct repair kit.

Duct tape is used for many, many things, but this is one place where the name says it all! Easily repair rips or tears in ducts with duct tape.

Also, check and regularly replace dirty air filters that inhibit airflow. Ideally, you should replace the air filters on your HVAC unit about every three months.

HVAC Repairs In Corsicana, TX

Keeping your air ducts clean, sealed, and in proper working order will save hundreds of dollars every year and also provide a great healthy environment for you and your family to enjoy and grow in. If you want to save money on energy bills and unforeseen HVAC breakdowns, turn to Area Wide Services today.

Our licensed Corsicana TX HVAC Specialists can schedule routine tune-ups and maintenance checks to diagnose and repair leaky air ducts before they grow into larger, more expensive issues and ensure that your HVAC system is doing an excellent job of cooling/heating your home efficiently.

We understand that a damaged HVAC system can be the ultimate inconvenience. That’s why we offer around the clock services — so, if you have a problem with your unit at 3:00 in the morning, or even on holiday, emergency HVAC service can and will be provided.

Give us a call at (903) 874-5298 to speak with an HVAC pro today! Also, please visit our blog to gain additional input on caring for and maintaining your HVAC systems.

 

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