One of the most important parts of the heating and cooling system in your home you cannot even see. It is called the ductwork and it is installed in the attic space of most homes. The duct is made from metal and is usually in the shape of square or round pipes. These pipes are installed with the unit when the home is built. It is a major part of the installation and it has to be done with very specific plans. The installation is so important because this is what will send the air that is either heated or cooled to each room in the home. The duct is not one full uninterrupted piece so there are chances that the duct can be installed with a leak or over time can develop a leak. The problem is that when your duct starts to leak you may not even notice unless you know what you are looking for.
NY NJ A/C Connection has a list of ductwork leak signs to look for and what can be done to fix it.
SIGNS: There are several ways that you might be able to tell that you have a duct that leaks. The leaking can go undetected and can end up costing you a lot of money over time. One of the best ways to tell that you may have a leak in the duct is if you have a room that is hotter or colder than the rest of the home. If you have already checked into the vent and made sure that it was open fully it might be the duct. The leak can be releasing the air into the attic space and not in the room that you want. You can also take a look at your energy bill and see if you are using more energy than normal. If you notice a jump in the energy cost it could be caused by the amount of air that is being leaked out of the duct and into the attic space. Dust settling or entering a room when the air kicks on. This could be dust that has gotten into the dust through the open spaces and end up being blown into the room in your home.
REPAIR: When you determine that this is what is happening in your home you can have the duct leak repairs. The repair is called sealing the duct. This is done by a professional because the duct is so intricate and in a very small space, a professional is the best person to be sure that all the leaks are sealed up.
