Ever had a package that was delivered damaged? Sometimes it’s broken to begin with, but sometimes it’s the delivery driver to blame.
You may think your Jersey Shore home is struggling to meet temperature or making strange noises because of your furnace or AC unit, but the truth is that it could be the delivery system at fault: your ductwork!
Check out these issues that are most commonly a result of ductwork shortcomings.
#5: Hot or Cold Spots
We get it all the time. A house in Freehold has a bedroom that is always ten degrees colder than the rest of the house. A couple in Long Branch notices the one side of their home is way too hot to enjoy. But they only have one HVAC system… how can that be? The balance of temperatures throughout your home depends solely on the design of your ductwork. A bedroom at the end of a long run might have difficulty heating up in the winter or cooling in the summer, simply because the air never makes it there.
If your system is working properly for the rest of your home, this issue is likely caused by your ductwork. Other causes could be lack of sufficient insulation in those areas, too many windows, or high ceilings, which can also make it very difficult to properly heat or cool an area.
#4: Dust and Allergens
Something that our project managers see from time to time is internally insulated ductwork. Conceptually, it seems like a great idea. Beyond the obvious efficiency factor, adding insulation to the interior of ductwork dampens sound and does a great job at keeping your air warm or
cool until it reaches its destination. The problem isn’t right away. It comes after years of using the ductwork for your HVAC needs. Hot air in the winter dries out the insulation, which was once made from dangerous material, causing it to flake and enter the air of your home through your registers. In the summertime, the cool air in the ducts and hot, humid air outside clash, causing condensation that will be soaked in by the insulation. We’ll stop there, but we’re sure you understand where we’re going with this. At the very least, your ductwork could be holding dust and allergens, then dispersing them into
the air of your home. Nobody wants that, do they?
#3: Uncomfortable or Inadequate Airflow
In the perfect Jersey Shore home with a standard residential HVAC system, you wouldn’t feel any kind of airflow in your home. Your furnace or air conditioner is meant to push just the right amount of hot or cold air through your registers, leaving the space comfortable. If you’ve ever felt a blast of heat to the side of your head in the winter or a burst of cold at your feet in the summer, chances are it’s an issue with your ductwork. A kinked flex duct could be
keeping the right amount of air from gently dispersing into your home, or violently forcing air through the ducts like a bent garden hose.
#2: Noises
Believe it or not, Rostron Premium Home Services could probably play at the Stone Pony this summer with just the noises we hear from troublesome ductwork. Loud whooshing, whistling, and loud drumbeats are just a few examples. Pinholes will inevitably start showing up as your ductwork ages, leading to high-pitched sounds as the air is forced through them. Unfortunately, sealants are not meant to last forever. If you hear a banging noise somewhere in your home, it’s likely that your ductwork is expanding and contracting, based on the temperature within it. Scientifically, hot air takes up more space than cold air. So, when your furnace is pushing hot air through your ductwork, the air needs more space, causing it to push against the metal and creating popping noises.
#1: High Utility Bills
We’re confident your Jersey Shore utility bills are expensive enough. Though it’s probably not a huge shock, a fair portion of the air you heat or cool never makes it to the destination. Why is that, exactly? Well, any amount of leakage within your ductwork is a major detriment. Your HVAC system is
forcing hot and cold air through it. Optimally, you’d like it to travel through the ducts to the destination, but if the path of least resistance is somewhere before the end of the line, that conditioned air is escaping into your attic, basement, or crawlspace. Another factor could be the material used for your duct system. Over the years, there have been a number of different materials that were once used for ductwork. Some have been cast aside for higher efficiency options, but your home might still have an older medium. At the end of the day, the money you spent to make your home comfortable goes along with it.
Quality Matters
The overall condition of your ductwork, both when it was first installed and now, is one of the most important aspects when HVAC professionals consider efficiency and comfort. That being said, even a system of ductwork made up from the best materials and insulated to the top
standard will need to be replaced eventually. You wouldn’t purchase a new car, but take the wheels and tires off of your old car, would you? Next time you’re in your attic, crawlspace, or basement, do us a favor and take a look at your ductwork. If you notice tattered or missing insulation, rust spots, or strange noises, it may be time to consider replacement.
Rostron Premium Home Services offers free estimates for HVAC system and ductwork replacements for Monmouth and Ocean Counties, New Jersey. Give us a call at 732-223-8221 to set a date for your free estimate!
