If the HVAC ductwork in your San Antonio home is aging or damaged, your HVAC system’s health and performance are suffering because of it. Having brand new ductwork installed is often preferable to paying for patches. With new ducting, maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures will be both easier and cheaper. You’ll also pay less for HVAC system repairs and have a higher indoor air quality (IAQ). Read on to discover nine reasons why paying for new ducting can be incredibly beneficial.
1. Airflow Will Improve
Often caused by dirty filters, blocked air ducts, and damaged air ducts, airflow issues are hard on heating and cooling equipment. If they go unchecked for an extended period of time, problems with airflow can diminish the lifespan of your HVAC system. They can also cause:
- Hot and cold spots throughout your home
- Loud whistling sounds throughout the ducting
- Excess humidity
- Pressure imbalances that force open doors throughout your home closed
When the heater or air conditioner is on, you may have limited air flowing from the vents or no air coming out at all. Airflow can even make your A/C system blow out warm air, and it may cause your cooling system or heater to outright fail.
Installing brand new ductwork eliminates these and countless other problems. When HVAC ductwork is punctured, torn, or has other damages, it releases conditioned air behind a home’s walls where residents never actually benefit from it. Brand new ducting will ensure that heated and cooled air is evenly distributed throughout the building and that there’s little to no energy waste.
2. Everyone Will Breathe More Easily
Damaged ductwork sets the stage for indoor air quality (IAQ) concerns. For instance, if there are holes in your return ducts, outdoor pollutants can enter your ventilation system. These pollutants include exhaust fumes, mold spores, pollen, and pesticides or herbicides that are used on or near your property. Worse still, given that the return ducts pull in outdoor air and push it through the system after the conditioning process is already complete, none of the contaminants that are introduced via this route are filtered out. Not only can damaged return ducts take in contaminated outdoor air, but they can also draw dirty air from damp, musty places in your home such as your crawlspaces, basement, attic, and garage.
Old ducts are also likely to be riddled with debris. If you’ve ever had to remove thick accumulations of lint or dust from your HVAC air vents or grilles, it’s safe to assume that the interior of your ductwork looks much the same. Over time, even professional cleaning won’t provide the same IAQ benefits that fresh ductwork will. If your HVAC ductwork hasn’t been replaced within the past 15 years, having it replaced now will help everyone in your home breathe easier.
3. Your Overhead Costs Will Go Down
Better airflow will prevent your HVAC system from having to overwork. Better air delivery will enable your heating and cooling equipment to achieve your preferred temperature with ease. When heated or cooled air isn’t being deposited behind your drywall you won’t have to contend with hot and cold, and your energy bill will go down.
In San Antonio, HVAC use accounts for approximately half of the average home energy bill. This is certainly true during times of temperature extremes when heaters or air conditioners are being run all of the time. Thus, although it costs money to have aging ductwork replaced, this is an expense that will pay for itself over time.
4. Newly Installed HVAC Equipment Will Function More Efficiently
The average lifespan of HVAC ductwork and air conditioners is approximately the same. Most air conditioners are expected to last about 15 to 20 years, and HVAC ductwork should be replaced once every 15 years. Changing your aging ductwork out when having a new air conditioner put in will allow you to get the most from your new equipment.
Paying for an energy-efficient heater or air conditioner won’t do much good if you’ve got leaky ductwork. Even highly efficient HVAC equipment cannot perform well if the air delivery system is ragged and riddled with leaks. Although small areas of damage can be patched as time goes on, having multiple patches across aged ducting is never a good idea.
5. Your Home Will Gain Value
New ductwork adds both value and marketability to homes. This is a feature that will give prospective buyers more confidence in your property. Replacing aging HVAC equipment and aging ductwork at once can significantly increase the resale value of any residential building. Savvy home buyers are always looking for features that provide energy savings. The same benefits that you’ll enjoy with new ductwork will be equally appealing to prospective investors should you choose to list your home in the near future.
6. New Ducting Is an Excellent Opportunity to Get Rid of Old Mold Issues
If you have recurring problems with mold in your home, your aging ductwork may be the culprit. When mold remediation falls short, it’s often because mold spores have entered the HVAC system. Changing your ductwork out could be an important step towards restoring your home back to a safe, healthy, and ultimately habitable condition.
7. Enjoy a Lower Carbon Footprint
Adding insulation, upgrading to a tankless water heater, and having an energy audit performed are all effective ways to improve the efficiency of your home. However, replacing old ductwork can also be a worthwhile measure. If you’ve been dealing with problems like low airflow due to leaky air ducts, this is an upgrade that will greatly reduce the amount of energy your household uses. Once you’ve replaced your ductwork, you’ll see a significant reduction in your energy bill even if you maintain your normal thermostat settings and continue to use your heating and air conditioner just as you usually do.
8. Sidestep the Need for Continued Repairs
Unless your ductwork has developed an air leak due to an impact event, patching it may be just a short-term fix. As HVAC ducting ages and loses its integrity, the development of one leak is a likely sign that similar problems are on the way. As ducting draws near the end of its lifespan, homeowners often have to pay for repairs with increasing frequency. Planning to have your ductwork replaced now is far better than waiting until this essential infrastructure fails altogether.
9. Minimize the Risk of Dangerous Back Drafts
Changing out old ductwork can also prevent a major health hazard. If your ductwork is over 15 years old, you may be at risk of having harmful exhaust gases be pulled into your living environment. Combustion appliances always have venting systems such as flues or chimneys. When the air pressure around your stove, oven, or water heater is negative, this will create a backdraft that draws exhaust gases down. This is one of the best reasons to replace aged ducting in a timely fashion.
If you need air duct replacement or repair services in San Antonio, Texas, you can always count on Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating. We’ve been providing reliable heating and cooling services for quite some time. We also offer indoor air quality services, water heater installation, attic and floor insulation, and more. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
