Home comfort is a must when you live in Southeastern Michigan. With the dramatic ups and downs of the seasonal temperatures, you need consistent performance from your heating and cooling system to avoid miserable conditions indoors. However, the HVAC system alone isn’t enough to ensure comfort. Your air ducts provide a pathway for conditioned air to reach different areas of your home. If you have faulty ductwork, you may struggle to keep your place comfortable despite strong, reliable heating and cooling appliances. Read on to learn more about common signs that your ductwork is to blame for comfort issues at your home in Flat Rock so you know when to call our expert technicians.
The Role of Air Ducts
The design and integrity of your air ducts are crucial for the performance of your heating and cooling system. Your HVAC equipment creates hot and cold air to keep your residence at a constant, ideal temperature. This system then forces the conditioned air through your air ducts, which carries it to the vents to be spread through the house.
Signs of Ductwork Problems
Damaged ductwork can create a host of problems for your HVAC system and your home comfort. Although your air ducts often lie behind walls and under the floors, where you cannot easily see them, there are plenty of signs and symptoms that can alert you to ductwork issues. Check out the list of common warning signs that your air ducts need repairing. If you spot signs of ductwork issues, give us a call, and we’ll check it out as quickly as we can.
Hot or Cold Spots
If you cannot seem to keep every area of your home at a consistent temperature or you find some rooms cooler or warmer than others, you may have an issue within the ductwork system. Your air ducts are designed in a way to maximize even flow of conditioned air so that each room can reach the same temperature. When your ducts become clogged with debris or have holes that allow conditioned air to escape, you may get less airflow in certain areas, leaving some rooms less comfortable than others.
Insufficient Airflow
Similar to uneven airflow, you may experience insufficient airflow if there’s an issue with the ductwork. If the conditioned air leaks out of the air ducts before it reaches the vents, you may not feel as powerful a flow of cold or hot air. This means that it will take your HVAC system more energy to bring your space to the target temperature, leading to increased stress and energy consumption.
No Airflow
If you aren’t getting any air from the vents at all, it’s time to call for help. Though this could be caused by your HVAC system itself, it’s also possible that your ducts have leaks, gaps, or clogs that are preventing air from traveling to the vents. If your ductwork comes apart, the conditioned air may blow into empty spaces. Clogged ductwork can prevent air from moving at all. If you hear your system running but nothing comes from the vents, call our team. We can assess the problem and make repairs whether to the ducts or the HVAC system.
Foul or Musty Odors
Airflow from your HVAC system is odorless under normal conditions. If you smell foul or musty odors when air blows through your vents, you could have contaminants in the ductwork. Dust, dirt, and other debris does enter your HVAC system and ductwork no matter how hard you try to prevent it. Even small rodents and insects can make a home inside the system. As the contaminants rot or mold, they bring an uncomfortable odor with them. If your ducts have holes or gaps, this provides an easy entry point. We can clean out the ductwork, removing the contaminants causing the odors, and then repair and seal the ducts to prevent further intrusion.
Decreased HVAC Efficiency
If your heating and cooling system struggles to force enough air to the vents to keep your home at an ideal temperature, it may require more energy to keep up. Greater energy consumption thus leads to decreased efficiency, which translates into higher utility bills. If you notice your heating or cooling costs rising, it’s time to schedule a ductwork inspection so that our technicians can find the cause and make repairs.
Strange Noises
Air should move through your ductwork quietly, with nothing more than a slight breezy sound as it blows through. If you hear unusual or loud noises during the HVAC cycles, it could be the result of damaged or dirty ductwork. Whistling or hissing noises may indicate small holes where air escapes the ducts. Rattling or vibrating noises may indicate debris blowing around inside the ductwork. Our technicians will investigate and find the cause of the strange sounds and make repairs, replace sections of damaged ducts, or perform duct cleaning to eliminate the noises.
Visible Ductwork Damage
Though most of your home’s air ducts hide behind walls, under floors, and above the ceilings, you may be able to see parts of them exposed in certain areas. If you spot heavy corrosion, holes, or gaps in the air ducts, they likely aren’t transporting conditioned air as well as they should. In cases of small holes and leaks, we can usually seal the ducts using special materials. If the damage covers an extensive area, we may need to replace larger sections of the air ducts to prevent further airflow issues.
Aging Air Ducts
If you live in an older home and you have never replaced your ductwork, it may be time for a thorough inspection. Older air ducts are more susceptible to damage and corrosion and can weaken over time. If your air ducts are more than 20 years old, replacement may be the best option. The materials in older ductwork make them a poor candidate for repair. Newer ductwork is made from stronger materials that can stand up better to moisture, extreme temperatures, and a heavier workload.
Let Our Experts Care for Your Ductwork
At [company_name], our passion is home comfort. Our specialists focus on high-quality professional ductwork services to help your HVAC system perform more optimally so that you can maintain control over the climate in your home. Our team has nearly two decades of experience to give us the knowledge and skills you can count on. In addition to ductwork services, trust us with your heating and cooling services, including installation, repairs, and maintenance.
We also help with indoor air quality through duct cleaning, humidity control, and air purification. As a full-service heating, cooling, and air quality company, we provide all the services you need to enjoy your home comfortably and conveniently.
When you need help with your home’s air ducts, let our home comfort specialists take over. Call [company_name] today for top-tier ductwork repair and replacement in Flat Rock.