Red Flags That Indicate Your Air Ducts May Be Leaking
Posted on: 10 February 2021
If you live in an area that has scorching hot summer weather, owning a home with a central air conditioning system is a must. Running your air conditioner during the summer is an easy way to ensure that your home remains cool and comfortable. However, as a homeowner, you need to make sure that your A/C system is in good working condition and doesn't have any issues. One common problem that residential air conditioning systems can develop is leaks in the air ducts. The good news is that an experienced HVAC contractor can easily fix leaking air ducts. Some of the common signs that there is a leak in the air ducts in your home include the following:
Your Electric Bill Increases Unexpectedly
When you live in a hot climate, you are most likely used to paying higher electric bills during the summer when you have to run your air conditioner on a regular basis to keep your home cool. However, if you begin receiving electric bills that are much higher than your average summer bills, your air conditioning system may be to blame. Air duct leaks make it difficult for an air conditioner to run efficiently, and a lot of cool air will seep out of the ducts. This means that your air conditioner will have to run longer and cycle on more frequently to keep your home at the temperature set on your thermostat.
One or More Rooms Never Cool Down
When an air conditioning system is in good working order and the ducts are properly sealed, all areas of a home should cool down at the same rate. But when there is an air duct leak, it is not uncommon for one or more rooms to remain warm since the cool air is leaking out of the duct instead of flowing through the vent. Don't brush off the fact that one room won't cool down — you are much better off having an HVAC contractor check the air ducts leading to the room that won't cool down to see if there is a leak that needs to be sealed.
Excessive Dust
While an air duct leak allows cool air to seep out, it also allows dust to enter the air ducts. As a result, homes that have leaking air ducts can be a lot dustier than normal since the dust will blow through the vents when the air conditioner is running. A little bit of dust is normal in a home, but if you notice excessive dust in your home all of a sudden, have your air ducts checked out and repaired by a residential A/C service.
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