Earlier this week we wrote about how noisy ductwork can indicate problems with your air conditioner. Today we’re going to dive deeper into potential ductwork problems and the effects that those problems can have on the performance and efficiency of your cooling system!
3 common air conditioning ductwork problems
- Duct leaks. Duct leaks are any openings in your home’s ductwork that allow conditioned air to seep out and unconditioned air to get in. These often occur when the connections between two ducts become loose or a duct is somehow punctured.
- Uninsulated ducts. Uninsulated ducts in unconditioned parts of your home can raise the temperature of the air in your ducts and make it difficult to cool your home.
- Poor duct design. If your air conditioning system wasn’t installed by a qualified contractor like Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning, Electrical and Plumbing, there’s a chance that your ductwork can suffer from design issues such as improperly sized ducts or an inadequate amount of supply and return registers.
How do ductwork problems affect the performance of your air conditioning system?
Your ductwork is the delivery system for the cool air that your air conditioner produces. If something is wrong with your duct system, your air conditioner can experience several issues, including:
- Increased energy consumption. If cool air isn’t getting where it needs to go, your air conditioner will have to work much harder and longer to cool your home. This will increase the amount of energy that your air conditioner consumes and result in higher energy bills.
- Poor performance. Issues with your ductwork often make it difficult to effectively cool your home. All of the ductwork problems listed above can restrict the amount of cool air that’s delivered to different rooms in your home and result in uneven and inadequate cooling.
- Shortened system life. The more your air conditioner has to work to compensate for ductwork problems, the more stress it endures. This opens up the possibility for issues like overheating and breakdowns that, when added up over time, can decrease your air conditioning system’s operating life.
- Unfiltered air. If you have duct leaks anywhere in your home, especially in dust-filled areas like attics or crawlspaces, dirty air can get into your ducts and circulate throughout your home. This is especially true if the leaks are in your supply ducts because the air won’t go through your air conditioner’s air filter.
If you have any questions about the ductwork for your air conditioning system, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning, Electrical and Plumbing, your St. Charles, MO, air conditioning service company. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Weldon Spring, Wentzville, and Winghaven.
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