Here’s a scary statistic for you: in the average home in America which has ductwork as part of its HVAC system, up to 30% of the heated and cooled air is lost through leaks in the ducts. Imagine nearly a third of the air you’ve paid so much to get to the perfect temperature being wasted, never making it to your vents.
And that’s the average! Many, many homes have much leakier ductwork, full of holes, cracks, tears, and other damage. Worse, wasted energy (and thus wasted money) is not the only problem. Leaky ducts also allow contaminants into your air. What can you do? We’re at your service.
Energy and Money
In the US, the amount of money homeowners spend on heating and cooling is tremendous. It’s by far the largest portion of our energy use, and thus the biggest slice of our utility bills. Energy prices vary from place to place and change over time, but this often amounts to over a thousand dollars spent each year on trying to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.
And if thirty % of that is lost, how much money are you spending that you shouldn’t be? Perhaps three hundred dollars or more! What would you do with three hundred extra dollars every single year? Several trips to your favorite restaurant? A night at a nice hotel? Throwing it away is a terrible use of that much money!
Indoor Air Quality
There’s a lot of air pressure involved as the air flows through your HVAC ducts. And this leads to another interesting, unpleasant problem. At times, air will be pushed out of the leaks and holes. At other times, air will be pulled in through them! This brings air from the spaces around your ducts into the living spaces of your home.
What’s in that air around your ducts? Well, they’re usually tucked away behind walls, below floors, above ceilings, or in your attic. There’s all sorts of stuff there that you don’t want to breathe! There’s sawdust from long ago, when your home was built. There are particles of insulation, which may be fiberglass—terrible for lungs. And there’s the mess left behind by insects and rodents.
Other Complications
There are further issues that duct leaks can cause. They put extra strain on all sorts of systems in your home, including your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump, and any air filters or purifiers you have. This will lead to an increase in repairs for these systems and a decrease in their lifespans, causing you to need to replace things like heating and cooling systems much sooner than you should have to.
Duct Replacement
The duct tape you’re eyeing won’t do much good. It dries out and cracks very quickly in the fluctuating temperatures of ductwork. Professional duct sealing is an option as long as the cracks and holes are relatively minor. But when ducts are badly damaged, the solution is air duct replacement in Lockport, IL. Our team of experts would be delighted to inspect your ducts and help you find the right solution for your home and your budget.
Call J&A today, Sleep-tight tonight!