A comfortable home is a happy home, but what happens when one room of the home doesn't seem to stay as cool or as warm as other areas, or if an air conditioning unit seems to struggle to cool down your home in the same way it once did?

There's a possibility that duct problems are to blame, not your HVAC unit itself. Before you start considering replacing your HVAC unit, it's worth taking a closer look at your ducts. Repairing or replacing ductwork that has been damaged in any way could help improve heating and cooling efficiency while providing a more consistent temperature in the home.

Ductwork Basics

Just what is your ductwork? It's a system of tubes that carries air from one spot to another. There are ducts that move heated or cooled air from the HVAC unit to the rooms of your home, and return ducts that bring air from the home back to the unit to be heated or cooled again. It's made from insulated materials to help maintain proper air temperature during transport of the air.

Common Problems With Ductwork

There are numerous problems that can occur with ductwork, and any of them could lead to loss of heating or cooling efficiency, increased energy bills, and other similar issues. Here are some of the most common problems we see with ductwork.

• Air Duct Leaks – Leaks can happen when duct sealant breaks down or could be present due to poor installation. When they occur, air loss will happen at an alarming rate and reduce efficiency.
• Old Ductwork – The older the ductwork is, the greater the chance that it could disintegrate. When this happens, insulation falls off and the temperature of air within the ducts won't be maintained. In fact, there can be as much as a 15 degree difference from the HVAC unit to the area it enters the home in. This can increase cooling costs by as much as 60%. Old ductwork must be replaced in order to improve efficiency.
• Animal Damage – Pests like rats and squirrels can damage ductwork as well, and could even build nests in old ducts. If your home has had animal problems in the past this is especially problematic.

At Next-Door Contractors, we believe that a good home heating and cooling system goes beyond just the unit you install. Our technicians will complete a full visual inspection of your ducts and also utilize an infrared camera where needed to spot leaks.

Our team also performs an air balance check to see if the airflow of your system is properly balanced. If not, we can install dampers and make adjustments to help ensure that you get the right level of airflow in each area of the home. This step can help if one part of the home is too cool or too hot compared to the rest.

Simply put, your ductwork deserves your attention. Our team can help you ensure that it's all it can be.