If you have a traditional central heating and cooling system, it is attached to a network of ducts that are located in either your attic or your basement. These ducts play a crucial role in how well your HVAC system is able to heat and cool your home. While ductwork does tend to last longer than air conditioners and heaters, there does come a time when it needs to be replaced.
You can keep reading to learn more about the signs that your ductwork is aging and needs to be replaced with newer materials. If you’re not sure about your ductwork, you can give our team a call to schedule duct services in Finger Lakes. Our team is always here to help with all of your HVAC needs.
How Long Ductwork Lasts
Ductwork usually lasts for about 15 years. However, with proper care, your ductwork can easily last for closer to 20-25 years. Yet you don’t want to keep all ductwork in place just because you think you’re saving money versus paying to overhaul it. In fact, old ductwork can be costing you a lot on your monthly energy bills.
If the ductwork layout is not efficient and there are holes and broken seals across the network, your ductwork may be losing a significant amount of conditioned air. In fact, experts estimate that losing just 20% of the conditioned air that your HVAC system produces can increase your energy expenses by 50%.
Signs of Duct Problems
The question is, how do you know when your ductwork is in need of replacement? The first indication is age. Ductwork that is older than 20 years is more likely to need replacing. You may also consider that you’re having to make frequent repairs to your ductwork because it is so fragile and simply deteriorating as time passes.
It’s also possible that you’re experiencing broken seals around the joints more frequently. Although we can reseal these joints, having frequent problems can indicate that your ductwork is simply old and in need of replacement. You may notice high dust levels around your home because of dust and dirt getting into the network of ducts through the holes in broken seals.
There may also be a lack of airflow blowing into rooms of your home. Depending on where ductwork problems are happening, this could be a widespread problem or one that only impacts a certain room or area of your house.
Importance of Regular Maintenance
You should be scheduling ductwork cleaning and maintenance every 3-5 years to keep up with care. This is the best way to ensure a longer lifespan for your ductwork. This helps our team to make small repairs and keep an eye on your ductwork so that you’ll have a better idea ahead of when it needs to be replaced so you can plan for the expense.
Upgrade Considerations
If you don’t want to worry about ductwork at all, you could always switch to a ductless mini-split system. These new units offer both heating and cooling without any attached ductwork. Instead, you have smaller units installed throughout your home that blow air directly into individual rooms or zones.
Contact Potter Heating Cooling & Plumbing today to schedule your duct services. Our team is here to help with all of your heating and air conditioning needs.