Dilapidated Ducts? Home HVAC Problems Caused By Faulty Ductwork

Replacing an older home heating and air conditioning system is something most homeowners routinely include in their list of home upgrades, repairs, and renovations. Sometimes, however, no such updating is planned for the ducts that must distribute the cooled or heated air from the HVAC system throughout the home. 

When the ducts are older or have become damaged in some way, failing to replace them can be an error in judgment that can prove costly over time. If you are preparing to replace your current HVAC system without also upgrading the ducts, here are some of the potential problems you may experience. 

Restricted air flow

Ducts that were designed decades ago may not have the size capacity needed to deliver heated and cooled air throughout the home. Sometimes, this is caused by ducts that were manufactured with diameters too small to accommodate the amount of air that higher efficiency systems are able to move. Even ducts that have large enough diameters can restrict air flow if they have been crushed or damaged. 

Restricted air flow can also become a problem when clogs exist inside the ducts. These clogs can be caused by a variety of conditions, including operating in a very dusty or dirty area, insufficient filter changes, or even rodent activity inside the ductwork. 

Homeowners who are preparing to replace their HVAC system will want to first ensure that their current ducts are properly sized, unobstructed, capable of handling the new demands, and that higher efficiency components being installed. 

Insufficient length

Another problem that can affect ductwork performance is insufficient length. This commonly occurs when the home was renovated and enlarged without also extending the length of the ducts. Homeowners who have ducts that are not sufficiently long enough to reach all parts of the home can experience issues with their HVAC system, including: 

  • improperly heated or cooled rooms
  • excessive wear due on HVAC components because they must work harder to bring the home to the desired time
  • higher than normal heating and cooling bills

Before making a firm decision about continuing to use your current ducts or replacing them with new ones, take time to discuss your situation fully with qualified HVAC technicians. These professionals have the training and experience to determine whether your current ductwork is still serviceable or whether installing new ones would help you improve your efficiency and enjoy more comfortable temperatures and conditions in your home. 

About Me

Keeping Kids Comfortable

I grew up in a small, rural town. The elementary school I attended contained less than two hundred students. And, this small school educated children from kindergarten to the seventh grade. The actual school building was extremely old and run down. Because I grew up in the southern United States, the spring and summer months were often extremely hot and humid. Unfortunately, the air conditioning system at my school was hopelessly inadequate. I remember sweating to the point of dehydration inside the classroom on a number of occasions. Whenever I was hot, I didn’t feel much like paying attention to my teachers. If you are the principle of a school, you should do everything in your power to keep your students cool and comfortable during the warm weather months. On this blog, you will discover the best HVAC systems to install in schools.