Last week, we debated when the best
time is to get a new air conditioning unit over replacing it. If, however, you
find that you’re having problems but your unit is function properly, you may
have a related but different problem on your hands: leaky ducts.
Research by PG&E in homes finds
that faulty ductwork can account for up to 25% of heating and air conditioning
loss in your house, sometimes even more. If your air ducts are leaking, your
air units will work twice as hard to achieve the temperature that they’re set
at, which uses a bunch of extra electricity without you even knowing it.
And what else are you losing if the
air you pay for is slipping right out of your home? That’s right… money.
We have some tips and tricks when it
comes to spotting a leaking air duct so not only can you stop wasting energy,
but your wallet can stop leaking money.
First of all, if you find that
certain rooms in your home are almost impossible to cool down in the summer or
heat up in the winter, you might have a leaky duct near that room. If the duct
is leaking, it won’t be able to transport the cold or hot air to the room, and
thus, is likely to leave it an unpleasant temperature.
Another sign that you might have
leaking air ducts is if you find that rooms are dusty and dirty after you turn
your air conditioning off. When there are leaks in your air ducts, contaminants
will get sucked into your home and will settle in rooms into which the leaky
duct leads. Not only will this cause a headache from constantly cleaning, but this
can actually be detrimental to the health of you and your family by allowing
dirt and pollutants into your home.
As we mentioned before, another huge
indicator of a leaky air duct is an abnormally high electric bill. Your heating/air
condition unit will have to work harder in order to achieve the temperature it’s
set at, which means it’s going to work longer and use more energy. In turn, you’ll
end up spending more money for less efficient heating and air.
If you notice any of these triggers on a regular
basis, call a professional to come out and take a look inside your home.
