Most of our homes use air ducts to distribute the heated and cooled air throughout the home, but most of us have no idea if those ducts are free from leaks. Making sure your ducts are in top condition can benefit you greatly. Ducts with leaks or those ducts that have been sealed improperly can cost you money and cause discomfort. Here are three signs that it might be time to have your ducts sealed properly.
- Your bills go up. When your ducts are leaking your energy costs will increase. The extra air will leak into places where it is not needed or helpful forcing your unit to output additional air at an additional cost to you. The Department of Energy states the average home can leak up to 30% of its air from unsealed ducts.
- Your indoor air quality goes down. When your ducts are not sealed properly, pollutants can seep into your air ducts and distribute throughout your home. Unsealed ducts are the number one leading contributor to mold growth on grills.
- You’re feeling it. “It” can mean sticky, hot, or cool. Your overall comfort level inside of your home has declined or you are feeling discomfort in one room or particular area of your home. You may find “hot spots” or “cold spots” as you walk throughout your home. This can be a huge red flag that you might have air duct leaks.
