The ductwork in your home is what carries the air to the rooms and helps you stay warm or cool. But how do you know when it’s time to replace it? Below are three signs that it may be time for new ductwork.

An Increase in Energy Bills

Gaps, cracks and other kinds of leaks in air ducts aren’t simply annoying. These issues can make your air conditioner or heater to work a lot harder than needed. Leaks that are in the ductwork let air that ought to be going to your home’s vents to get loose so that it’s not heating or cooling your home. When there isn’t a lot of air that’s going to the home from the HVAC system, your air conditioner or heater is going to have to run a lot longer. this means that you are going to have higher utility bills because you’re wasting energy.

If you’re noticing an unexplained spike in things like your electric, natural gas or some other utility bill related to your HVAC, you might think about checking your unit. But if your AC or furnace is properly working and you have maintained it, it might be that you need new ductwork.

It’s a good idea to contact a professional technician and have them check the ducts. They will evaluate the ducts, look for leaks, and let you know if they can be repaired or if you have to replace them.

Reduced Cooling and Heating

Leaks will raise the amount of energy that you are using, but when your air ducts are clogged with debris it can cause a problem that’s similar. When your duct is constricted, it will force your AC or heater to work a lot harder. This will raise your energy consumption as well as your bills.

Along with keeping an eye on the bills, you want to also pay close attention to the way that the home feels. This can help you with knowing if you have an issue with your ductwork. Rooms feeling really cold during the winter or too hot during the summer might not be receiving the air through their ductwork.

How will you be able to tell if the ducts are clogged? It’s a good idea to have someone inspect them and your system. If the technician can’t’ find anything wrong with your AC or heater, but they’re seeing debris inside your ducts, the problem’s with your ventilation system.
Even though dusty or dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean that they have to replaced, those that are really clogged and have other issues with their structures might need replacement.

Issues with Air Quality

The grime and gunk that clogs your ductwork does not just restrict your air flow and raise your bills. It also is going to reduce the quality of your air. When your air quality is poor inside your house, it can lead to sore throats, respiratory problems, headaches and stuffy noses. This also can trigger asthma and allergies. The very first thing that you should do to help improve the quality of your air is to be sure that the HVAC system in your home is clean, particularly the filters.

So what if you check the filters and change them and things still don’t change? Your issue might be your ductwork. Ducts that are older that have allergens or that are filled with debris can lead to problems for people who are elderly, who are really young or who have health problems. Replacing the ducts that aren’t responding to the regular maintenance and cleaning can help with eliminating these types of issues.

These are three signs that you might need to replace your ductwork. Keep an eye on your bills, how the home feels and how the quality of the air is in the home. They will all help you know if you need to have your ducts replaced.