You rely on your furnace or air conditioner to keep your Oak Harbor home comfortable. When there is a problem, most people immediately suspect that the heating or cooling equipment is the culprit. The experienced technicians at Island Heating & Air Conditioning are more than happy to handle your AC or furnace repair needs.
However, there is another component of comfort systems that homeowners often forget. A network of ducts carries the warm air from your furnace to the vents scattered throughout your house. If there is a problem with your ductwork, it can impact your home comfort and climate system efficiency.
Dusty Vents
If you notice excess dust around your vents, it may point to leaky ductwork. In a well-functioning system, filters will remove a good portion of the dust, hair and other impurities floating around your air. Dusty vents may point to impurities getting into the system after passing through the air filters. Holes or cracks in your ductwork may be the problem.
Lingering Allergies
You may not see the dust, pollen and dander around your vents, but sensitive household members may experience allergy symptoms if the air is not clean. If one of your loved ones has cold symptoms that never seem to go away, it might be an air quality issue. Our team can perform an indoor air quality assessment to see if there is a problem. From there, we can check the ducts for damage and offer other IAQ solutions.
Unusual Sounds
Metal ductwork expands and contracts as the air temperature changes. You get accustomed to the normal sounds of this process. However, if you notice loud banging or other unexpected noises, it can point to misaligned parts in your duct system. If you ever hear strange sounds from any part of your home comfort systems, it is a good idea to call our professional team to check things out.
Inconsistent Temperatures
Leaky ducts or blockages will affect the ability of your furnace or AC to maintain a constant temperature throughout the house. Passages blocked by excess dust or lint will have a hard time letting air through. The affected rooms will be at a different temperature than other parts of the home. You may also notice a lack of airflow at the vent.
Leaky ducts cause a similar problem. In this case, a portion of the treated air never makes it to the vent. Air may flow out of the vent, but the room will always be at a less comfortable temperature than other rooms in the same zone.
Unpleasant Smells
When you take a warm shower on a cold day, you may notice water from the steam condensing on the window panes. When warm air and cool air meet, water droplets are the result. Leaks in your ductwork can create the right atmosphere for condensation, and water in your ducts provides an ideal habitat for mold and mildew growth.
Homeowners with this problem will notice a musty smell every time the system runs. This offensive odor is not something to ignore. Once mold finds a place in your ducts, it will send more spores that create colonies in other parts of your home. Mold spores can cause serious allergic reactions in sensitive people and affect your quality of life.
Signs of Pests
Insects and rodents are always on the lookout for a new home. When the system is not running, they may use cracks or holes to get into your ductwork. Mice can use your ducts to access other areas, and you may see droppings in and around vents. You may also notice unusual smells when the system runs.
A professional exterminator will help you get rid of these pests. Once they are gone, our team will repair any holes they have created.
Unexpectedly High Utility Bills
One of the most common signs of ductwork problems is an unexpected change in your heating or cooling bills. If air is not getting where it needs to go due to blockages, leaks or other problems, the system must work harder to heat or cool your home. This extra work will show up as higher utility costs. The additional effort will also shorten the lifespan of your equipment.
Your Partner for Home Comfort
The experts at Island Heating & Air Conditioning are ready to help you with all your home comfort needs. We offer comprehensive services for your heating, cooling and indoor air quality equipment. Our team will also address any issues with the ductwork that holds it all together. Contact Island Heating & Air Conditioning today for more information.
Tags: Damaged Ductwork SignsTags: HVAC
January 3, 2022 11:17 pm
