If your home is emitting musty or stale odors, poor insulation or air duct leaks could be the culprit. Mold in ducts can cause serious health issues, such as lung cancer and allergies, as spores are spread throughout the house each time the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is in use. Mold build-up and poor indoor air quality are signs that you may need to replace your ductwork. One of the most common symptoms of faulty ducts is leaks.
There are often leaks in the holes and weak connections between the ducts, making the air conditioning system work harder. Air ducts that have weak connections are also prone to sucking in dirty air from the surrounding environment. Signs that your home's air ducts are leaking can include high energy bills, rooms that aren't fully heated or cooled, and ducts that are visibly tangled or loose. In an average home, about 20 percent of hot and cold air escapes through cracks in ducts.
Undersized
return ducts that lead to the air conditioning unit and undersized supply ducts that lead to living rooms decrease system performance, increase energy bills and limit comfort.Sealing ducts is a great way to keep out dust and to keep your energy bill from rising. Signs that may indicate that the ducts are incorrectly sized or that the vents are clogged include strange noises or a strong flow of air coming from the air duct system. You may not be able to see the problem, but you can feel the effects of poorly sealed ducts that are undersized, improperly installed, or clogged.
