With winter almost here and colder weather right around the corner, our HVAC professionals at AAA Service Plumbing, Heating & Electric believe it’s a good time to talk about how to avoid cold spots and drafts in your home. What’s the best way to do this? It’s all about maintaining your ductwork.
Hidden throughout your walls or up in your attic, proper ductwork allows you to enjoy the right amount of cool and hot air from room to room. According to the Department of Energy, however, 20-40% of the heating and cooling power generated by your HVAC system is actually lost through leaky ducts. The end result of this is not only to make your home less comfortable, but also less energy-efficient, even affecting your day-to-day health. Sealing your ducts and patching up insulation is key to establishing even temperatures in your house, whether we’re talking about air conditioning or heating equipment, so keep reading to learn more.
The Top 3 Problems Caused by Leaky Ductwork:
- Less Hot/Cool Air: For most HVAC systems, functioning ductwork is a must. In the winter, if you find there are cold spots all over your home, it’s probably because you have leaky ducts. In the summer, if you find that your house is hotter than it should be, it’s probably because you have leaky ducts. Sealing patches and holes in your ducts and making sure your ductwork is properly insulated is one of the best ways to increase your overall comfort level, and keep air from slipping out no matter what season it is.
- Higher Energy Bills: Your home cannot achieve proper energy efficiency if your ducts are leaky. Again, it’s important to consider just how much hot and cold air is lost from your house every year because of inefficient ducts, resulting in higher utility costs for less comfort. Uneven temperatures can also confuse your thermostat, so your HVAC system has to work harder in certain parts of your home than others. If you are tired of high energy bills, and want to achieve greater comfort, too, it’s important to maintain your ducts.
- Health Repercussions: When there are leaks in your ducts, contaminants including everything from dust, pollen and pet dander, to exhaust fumes and carbon monoxide, to various other air pollutants can enter your system. Once there, they will be circulated around your home, meaning your air quality will be affected in every room. The effects of poor indoor air quality include everything from respiratory problems to increased asthma and allergy issues to itchy skin and eyes to headaches, nausea, and even joint pain. Leaky ducts also lead to excess condensation, which means increased mold and mildew growth. That’s why for the sake of your comfort, finances, and heath, sealing and patching up ductwork is essential.
Make sure your heating system is well-maintained and your home is comfortable all winter-long! Just call AAA Service Plumbing, Heating & Electric now at (303) 313-3333, or send us a message online.
