Ductwork is used to deliver air throughout your home. Heating and cooling ducts send air-conditioned or heated air into each room to ensure that comfortable temperatures are maintained.

In most homes, one end of the duct is connected to the HVAC unit, and the other ends connect to the registers in
each room. Return air ducts re-circulate the air in a home. After conditioned air enters a room, a blower fan cycles it back through the HVAC system via the return ducts, which are connected to larger vents.

These ducts might be tucked be away behind walls, under floors, and in ceilings, attics, or crawlspaces — which
makes them difficult to check. Because you don’t see the ducts often, they’re easy to forget about until they affect the comfort levels in your home.

HOW DOES DUCTWORK IMPACT MY HOME?
Because your HVAC system depends on ductwork to both heat and cool your home, duct problems are year-round and can affect the following if they fail or have leaks:

Energy use
A damaged, improperly designed or leaky duct may cause air to enter unoccupied areas
in the home, such as the attic or spaces between the walls. As a result, an HVAC system
might have to work up to 40 percent harder to maintain comfortable temperatures.

Comfort levels
Faulty ductwork can make rooms feel hotter and more humid during the summer, and
too cold in the winter. Similarly, the temperatures throughout your home might not feel
consistent because the ducts can’t blow conditioned air evenly into each room.

Occupant health
Air leaks in ductwork may contain fumes from household products, insulation particles,
dust, mold, and other allergens. The substances can trigger allergy symptoms in home
occupants, which can be dangerous for those with upper respiratory conditions, such as
asthma.

WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR DUCTS

Ductwork problems don’t always require replacements. A licensed HVAC contractor that specializes in ductwork can perform tests to help determine the best course of action for your home’s system.

Signs that you might need a replacement include:

Improper Duct Design
In addition to leaks, improperly designed ductwork is one of the leading causes of HVAC energy losses because the system can’t circulate air to heat or cool your home efficiently or effectively. Even if the HVAC equipment is the right size, inadequate duct design can prevent its proper function.

Ducts Older Than 10 Years
Ducts and their seals, joints, and seams can deteriorate in as little as 10 years. If the ductwork in your home is more than a decade old and causes energy, comfort or health problems, a replacement might be the best course of action.

Mold Growth in Your Home
Common symptoms of duct leaks are excess dust and musty odors in a room caused by mold. If mold infiltrates ductwork, it could send spores into your home. For the sake of your health, it’s best to replace mold-infested ducts.

Crushed, Torn, Twisted or Kinked Ductwork
Flexible plastic ducts are commonly used in homes. Because the material is not rigid, it is vulnerable to becoming damaged beyond repair, which restricts airflow or diverts it to unoccupied spaces.

WHEN TO CALL AN EXPERT

When your HVAC system and thermostat work well, but you experience any of the problems below, call a licensed expert to schedule a duct inspection and blower test:

• The air in your home feels muggy during the summer
• The air in your home feels too dry during the winter
• Some rooms feel warmer or cooler than the others throughout the year
• Your energy bills keep getting more expensive
• You notice musty odors and can’t find the source
• Your home seems excessively dusty
• Allergy and asthma sufferers notice an increase in symptoms while inside the home
• You notice deteriorating tape or mastic at the joints between the spans of ductwork
• You notice disconnected spans of ductwork
• You see streaks of dust from ductwork seams
• You see evidence of corrosion
• You notice that registers are not sealed well at the duct connection

When a specialist inspects ductwork, they will perform tests to measure airflow, pressure, insulation levels and speed. The tests will determine if leaks are present and if duct replacement is necessary.