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Heed These Signs That Your Ductwork Is in Trouble

ductwork-trouble-signsFew homeowners realize just how important their Liberty Lake, ID indoor air quality is to their overall home comfort. Sure, the temperature of your home has a lot to do with your comfort, but what about contaminants and allergens that may be present in the air, making you and your family sick?

Even fewer homeowners realize how much their ductwork impacts the quality of their indoor air. Breached air ducts can allow dust, dirt, debris, and allergens that would normally be filtered out into their living space. Not to mention, damaged ductwork also causes higher energy bills since your conditioned air will escape through the leaks into unoccupied spaces such as your attic or crawlspace.

So how do you know if your ductwork is in trouble?

You Notice an Increase in Your Energy Bills

If your cooling (or heating) bills are increasing despite comparable use to last year—and comparable use to your neighbors—then there is a very good chance that leaky ductwork is the culprit. Repairing, or sealing your ductwork can bring an almost instant decrease to these bills.

There’s a Lot of Dust in Your Living Space

Dust is an inevitable part of life. However, if your living space seems excessively dusty—or dustier than your home usually is—then leaky ductwork could be to blame. When your ductwork leaks, fine particles and allergens in your home are distributed through these holes, rather than passing through the air filter. Having your ducts professionally serviced can keep that dust from re-circulating.

Your Living Space Has Poor Air Comfort

Does your home feel unusually stuffy, or are their parts of your living space that seem really difficult to heat or cool? Damaged ductwork can certainly impact the performance of your HVAC system as well as any humidification devices that are integrated into the system. Any conditioned air will be leaking out of the ductwork, rather than getting circulated through the vents like it should be—thus creating these comfort issues.

You Hear a Whistling Sound

Our customers often describe a whistling or hissing noise coming from their ducts as they distribute conditioned air through the home—if the ductwork is damaged. This is most likely the sound of air escaping from your air ducts, which lead to the inefficient use of your HVAC system, higher energy bills, and decreased comfort. This is a sure sign that your ducts need to be professionally sealed.

Reduced Indoor Air Quality

You may notice irritants making their way into your home when you didn’t before—usually signaled by a rise in allergy and asthma symptoms in those who suffer from these ailments. Poor indoor air quality can make even the healthiest person ill.

If you notice any symptoms like this or if your household seems to be finding it hard to keep illnesses at bay, it warrants a call to our indoor air quality specialists—to determine if you need professional duct sealing or perhaps another type of indoor air quality product or service.

ACI Northwest is here to help with your home comfort needs or concerns.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for helpful advice.

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