August 20, 2019
When you set your thermostat for the ideal temperature for your home, are you confident that the conditioned air you need will be delivered efficiently throughout every room? Weak airflow from the vents in your home can indicate an issue most homeowners won’t be able to see until it shows up on their electric bill at the end of the month. The ductwork that runs through the walls, above the ceiling and underneath your floors is like the highway that delivers the hot and cold air you depend on from your furnace and central air conditioner, and any leaks and inefficiencies that develop over time can really add up! Here are three signs your ductwork could be excessively leaky, poorly designed, or poorly installed.
1. The air flow is particularly low in one room (or more)
When your ductwork has multiple air leaks and gaps, conditioned air will escape by the time it reaches its destination, especially when it has a longer path to travel. This can leave some rooms utterly unconditioned and uncomfortable, with next to nothing coming from the vents and all of the good air long escaped into the attic or crawlspace.
2. Higher than normal energy bills
With all of that air escaping from your ductwork, you may find you are needing to run your furnace or air conditioner much longer than you normally would. The temperatures in the home are inconsistent, so you keep turning the thermostat further in the direction of comfort hoping to even out the temps. This may feel small at the time, but it can really add up at the end of the billing cycle! According to ENERGY STAR, 20% to 30% of all the air pushed through your ductwork is lost through leaks, which means your heating and cooling equipment is having to work 20% to 30% harder than it should!
3. Excess dust & poor air quality
Not only do leaky ducts allow your conditioned air out, they allow dust and dirt in. As that dust accumulates in your ductwork, it will find its way into your living space and into the air you breathe. If you have noticed more dust than normal in your home, or if your family members have been experiencing allergy-like symptoms and sinus issues, your ductwork is likely to blame.
Suspect It’s Your Ducts? Know For Sure.
Some of the symptoms listed above can mimic outdated or failing heating and cooling equipment — but how can you know for sure? With a thorough diagnostic test of your home by a home performance expert. This is called an energy audit, and will tell you everything you need to know about what is affecting your home's comfort and energy efficiency.
At Green Collar Operations, our energy audits only takes about 45 minutes, and we will inspect every aspect of your heating and cooling systems, including duct design, air flow, insulation, and attic ventilation. You will then receive a report detailing your home’s overall performance, as well as our recommendations for the specific home upgrades that will have the greatest impact on your home’s efficiency.
Bring In Austin’s Duct Experts
If you are looking for recommendations on how to increase airflow to one room, or how to even out the heating and cooling power of your home from room to room here in Austin, call in Green Collar Operations. We make it our day-to-day business to replace outdated and leaky ductwork, and design better duct systems for energy efficient heating and cooling all year round. Plus, we can even help you qualify for any rebates or incentives that are currently being offered!