10 Signs Your Ductwork Has Been Damaged
Read this to learn about 10 signs your ductwork has been damaged, and what you need to do about it to make your ductwork function again.
There are so many questions you might be asking yourself regarding ductwork, and we know that it can be confusing. From knowing how to stop condensation in metal ductwork, or why you need metal ducting, and the best metal ductwork to choose, it might be overwhelming.
Here, we aim to focus on 10 signs your ductwork has been damaged, covering some all-important things that you need to look for. Once you have determined that there’s an issue with your ductwork, you will need to decide whether you should replace old metal ductwork or not, depending on the severity of the damages.
How Do Air Ducts Get Damaged?
Unfortunately, there are several ways for your air ducts to get damaged, no matter what they are made from. Most damage occurs over time by wear and tear, but others can be minimised by taking proper care of your ductwork.
Air ducts can get damaged by:
How Long Do Air Ducts Usually Last?
Now, you might be wondering – how long does metal ductwork usually last? It is prone to rust, and can it grow mould? Are metal ducts better in general, are they better than plastic? If you do choose to use plastic ducting, can you cut it like you can metal ducting?
There are lots of advantages of using metal ducting, and one of those is that it can last much longer than other kinds. The majority of ductwork will last up to 15 years, but metal ductwork could reach 25 years if it’s properly cared for. Unfortunately, this will make you ask yourself if you should opt for metal or flex ductwork – but the answer to that depends.
10 Signs Your Ductwork Has Been Damaged
You might not even realise that your ductwork has been damaged with a few of these signs. In truth, there could also be other reasons for any of these issues occurring when there are only one or two of them. However, if you are noticing several of the signs we’re going to go through below, you should get your ductwork checked.
The 10 signs your ductwork has been damaged include the following:
- Utility Bills Are Higher Than Normal
- Punctures, Dents, and Aged Ducts
- HVAC System is Noisy
- Respiratory Issues and/or Allergies
- Airflow Within the Ducts is Poor
- Rooms Feel Uncomfortable
- The Air is Dusty
- Rooms Smell Musty or Strange
- Cooling and Heating is Uneven
- More Pests Than Usual
Utility Bills Are Higher Than Normal
Noticed a recent jump in your utility bills? This could be due to damaged ductwork that results in power being wasted with holes, blockages, and other issues going on in your ducts.
Since high utilities are something we would all like to avoid, try to be conscious of the next signs that we are going to go through. That way, you can get your ductwork fixed as quickly as possible and save money long-term.
Punctures, Dents, and Aged Ducts
This might be difficult to notice unless you get up close and personal with your ductwork. However, any pictures and dents in your ducts are a clear sign of damage and should result in you getting your ductwork checked out.
HVAC System is Noisy
Does your HVAC system seem more noisy than usual? This could be a sign of damaged ductwork, or another issue going on. In these cases, it’s common for debris and dirt to be the issue, so you should get it checked out to take the steps needed.
Respiratory Issues and/or Allergies
If you don’t usually suffer from allergies or respiratory issues when indoors and suddenly do, your ductwork could be to blame. Provided there are no other reasonable reasons for allergies to be acting up, you should check out ductwork and make sure that it’s functioning as it should be.
Airflow Within the Ducts is Poor
This is another ductwork issue that you may not be aware of unless you take the time to actually check. You can do this by monitoring different room temperatures around your house to find major differences. You should expect to find small differences between upstairs and downstairs areas, but anything more signifies an issue.
Rooms Feel Uncomfortable
One of the first signs you might notice is that your rooms just feel uncomfortable. This could be because they’re too warm or too cold, or somehow just don’t feel like they usually do. Once again, this discomfort could be due to an issue with your ductwork.
The Air is Dusty
Noticing that your air is full of dust when you look at that golden ray of sunshine streaking through the curtain? Or, you are having to dust your furniture more often than before? Maybe you can feel the dust yourself.
Dusty air is another sign that there could be damage to your ductwork.
Rooms Smell Musty or Strange
If you have noticed a strange or musty smell in your rooms, damaged ductwork could be to blame. If you think you’re experiencing this issue, make sure that there are no other potential causes for the smell so that you can hone in on the real issue.
Cooling and Heating is Uneven
Damaged ductwork will result in uneven heating and cooling throughout the house, and maybe in the same room. One side of the room might be significantly warmer than the other, or maybe there is a 10°C difference between one room and another.
In both cases, there’s a good chance that your ductwork is damaged enough to cause this, and will need to be repaired or replaced.
More Pests Than Usual
Finally, pests. If you are noticing more pests in your house than usual, there could be a correlation between that and damaged ductwork. If you never used to have a spider issue, or any other kinds of pests, you might want to look into your ductwork.
Ductwork that is no longer properly sealed off becomes the perfect spot for pests to call their new home. It isn’t uncommon for various rodents and roaches to even work their way into your ducts themselves and wreak havoc, so make sure you are taking all necessary steps to prevent this.
Damaged Ductwork: Your Next Steps
Ductwork isn’t always simple to figure out, especially if you know nothing about it. However, there are some things that you can do to ensure that your ductwork lasts as long as possible – and they’re easy!
There are three very simple ways to help protect your ductwork from the get-go. These include:
- Keeping all furniture away from the vents
- Changing the filters whenever needed
- Ensure your ductwork is insulated
If you find that your ductwork has been damaged, you will have two options: repair or replace. Of course, the option to go with will depend on the severity of the damage, so it’s always best to get a professional opinion before doing anything.
Since ductwork can be a tricky business, we always recommend getting someone to deal with the issue rather than dealing with it yourself – unless you truly know what you’re doing. If you are able to do it yourself, you might find our range of products useful, including thermal ducting that is ready to use.
Now that you know 10 signs your ductwork has been damaged, you know what to look out for. If you suspect that any of these issues are occurring, run a few tests and find out if that really is the case. Once you know for sure, you can take the appropriate next steps.
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