September 12, 2020

If your air conditioner and furnace are the heart of your HVAC system, then your ducts are the arteries and veins, faithfully carrying conditioned air throughout your San Antonio home. Just like arteries and veins can have problems from time to time, your home’s ducts can have problems, as well.

To preserve the energy-efficiency of your home and help prevent potential health problems for your family, it’s important to have your ducts repaired or replaced as soon as you notice issues. Thanks to this guide from Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating, you’ll have a better handle on the correct course of action.

Constant Temperature Changes

Constant temperature changes are one problem that ducts face. Since ducts are made of metal, they react quickly to changes in temperature, which can cause them to expand and contract at a cellular level.

While your HVAC system runs, the ducts either heat up or cool down rapidly and then quickly return to their original temperature after your HVAC system shuts off. Plus, many ducts are in uninsulated areas that expose them to extreme temperatures, contributing even more to their varying temperatures.

Over time, the expansion and contraction of the metal can cause the joints between the individual sections of ductwork to break down. If the seals fail completely, your ducts will begin spilling conditioned air into unconditioned cavities in your home. Likewise, unconditioned air will spill into your ducts, forcing your HVAC system to work harder to keep your home at an optimal temperature.

Depending on the type of seals that your ducts use, your ducts may be able to be repaired by Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating if this problem occurs. Another factor that determines if your ducts are repairable is where they are located. If they can be easily accessed by repair technicians, they will be much easier to repair than if they are located in inaccessible cavities.

Moisture Buildup

Another problem that your ducts can face is rust formation due to a buildup of moisture. Over time, dust can settle and collect in your ducts. When condensation occurs in your ducts while your air conditioner is running, this moisture can get trapped in the dust, thereby holding it against the metal.

If you don’t have your ducts cleaned every few years, this condition will persist. Eventually, you will develop rusty ducts. Alternatively, this same scenario can result in the growth of mold and mildew in your ducts.

Once either rust or mildew has had a chance to take hold in your ducts, replacement is your best option. If these contaminants break free from the walls of the ducts, they could be released into the air, which can cause unpleasant respiratory side effects, including sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and more. Plus, rusty ducts can become weak and brittle, eventually developing holes that allow air to leak from your ducts.

Pest Infestation

To a pest such as a squirrel or a mouse, a duct seems like an efficient escape route from the area where they’re trapped. Therefore, they will do whatever it takes to enter your ducts, wreaking havoc in the process.

Although rigid metal ducts seem solid, the sharp teeth of a determined pest will eventually overcome this material if they are determined enough. Plus, if you have flexible ducts anywhere in your home, the ducts are no match for even the smallest animals.

Without a doubt, having holes in your ducts is a bad thing, no matter how small the holes are. However, the bigger risk with pests in your ducts is that they could leave behind droppings. As these droppings decompose, they will release foul odors into your home, with the potential to cause harmful health effects, as well. Additionally, if a pest does manage to get into a duct, there is a risk that they could find a way into your living space, which could make for an exciting afternoon.

Fortunately, if you have a good exterminator to take care of the pests, most of the duct damage on rigid ducts can be repaired by Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating. If the damage occurs to flexible ducts, it’s best to replace them, preferably with rigid ducts. Either way, pests in your ducts is one problem that you don’t want to mess around with.

Bad Duct Design

Sometimes, even new ducts can cause issues with your home’s comfort. If ductwork isn’t properly designed by a company like Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating, you could run into trouble with proper air distribution right from the start.

One common problem that we run across is duct runs that are too long. In large homes, contractors sometimes try to take shortcuts by installing long sections of ductwork without installing an inline duct fan to keep the air volume constant until it reaches the vents. Therefore, by the time the air reaches its destination, it’s moving so slowly that it won’t do much to change the temperature of the room.

Another duct design flaw that can limit air volume is sharp turns. Like water, air slows down every time it hits an obstruction. Therefore, if you have too many 90-degree turns in a duct run, the air will be moving significantly slower by the time it reaches the end of the run.

As frustrating as it can be, the best cure for poor duct design is to replace the inadequate sections with new ductwork. It’s important that the HVAC contractor you work with is experienced in proper duct design and is willing to carefully measure your home to create the ideal duct pattern that will maximize airflow throughout your home.

Old Age

In most cases, ducts perform admirably throughout their entire intended service life and simply have issues due to old age. After about 10 or 15 years, you should have your ducts inspected to see if they are showing signs of age that could lead to inefficient operation.

Decaying seals, loose straps, and other problems can all happen as the materials in your ducts age. Therefore, it’s a good idea to be proactive and replace your ducts before they have a chance to completely break down.

Working With Us

At Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating, we take your home’s ducts seriously. We want our HVAC products to shine in our customer’s homes. However, we know that can’t happen if our customers have problems with their ducts. That’s why we offer duct design, repair, maintenance, and cleaning services to ensure your ducts operate properly throughout their entire service life.

What’s more, we can take care of the heart of your HVAC system with complete furnace and air conditioner repair, installation, and maintenance services. Plus, we can install and maintain indoor air quality equipment, including air purifiers and ionizers.

For over 25 years, we’ve been working hard to increase the comfort of people’s homes throughout the San Antonio area. As a family-run business, we understand what’s truly important to our customers.

Thanks to this earned trust, we’ve been able to maintain accreditation with the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. Plus, we regularly receive new five-star reviews from our cherished customers that thank us for our professionalism and praise our service. If it’s time to take a look at your home’s ducts, contact us at Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating today.

company icon
Categories: