When to Replace Ductwork

The ductwork in your home is hidden in the ceiling or floor and behind walls, so you don’t give it much thought. However, it’s an essential part of your HVAC system. It carries heated and cooled air to the rooms where you need it, and in some cases, some of your ducts pull air into the system to be heated and cooled. If there’s a problem with your ducts, you’ll have a problem with your HVAC system, energy efficiency, or your indoor air quality. It can be challenging to know when it’s time to replace your ductwork. At Crystal Clean Vents, we want to make sure you have the information you need to make an informed decision. 

Signs You Need to Replace Ductwork

With proper maintenance, your ductwork can last up to 25 years. It can make it hard to know when it’s time to replace your home’s ductwork. Here are a few signs that it might be time:

Age of Ductwork

Ductwork can be made from different types of materials that offer different lifespans. Sheet metal duct work can last up to 30 years while fiberglass can last between 15 and 25 years. As your ductwork ages, efficiency can be the first casualty.

Visible Damage

If you can see damage to your ductwork, it’s probably a good time to replace them. This damage is usually in the form of dents or punctures. These damages can cause problems with the airflow throughout your home. Your HVAC system will need to work longer and harder to compensate for the damage. 

Increased Energy Bills

When your energy bills start to soar, in the winter and summer months, it’s almost always a sign that there’s a problem with your HVAC system. If there isn’t a problem with the HVAC unit, then the ducts are probably the problem. You need to have a professional determine this. 

Poor Airflow

Do you have a room that is always too cold or too hot? It could be damage to the ductwork leading to the room. It might be that it feels like there’s barely any air coming out of your vents. Poor airflow causes your HVAC system to run longer than necessary. 

Unpleasant Odors

Dust, debris, rodent droppings, dead insects, and more can make it into your ducts. Over the years, this mess can compound itself, and you’ll begin to smell what’s hiding in your ductwork. 

Pest Infestation

Damaged or improperly sealed ducts can offer a new pathway for Pests, rodents, and insects to make it into your home. If it seems like you’re facing one infestation after another and nothing works at keeping them at bay, you need to have your ductwork evaluated for issues. 

How to Assess Your Ductwork

What condition is your ductwork in? You’ll need to assess your ductwork to determine if it’s time to replace it. Here are a few ways to do that:

Visual Inspection

Start by looking in your basement, attic, or crawlspace, where you can see the ducts. You’re looking for cracks in the seals, dents, and any other sign of visible damage. You should go from room to room, remove the vent covers, and use a flashlight to look for any evidence of damage. In these areas, water damage and excessive dust can also be signs of a problem. 

Professional Evaluation

If you don’t have the time or feel unsure of your diagnosis, a professional evaluation is the way to go. An HVAC professional has the tools and knowledge to look into spaces that you can’t. They also have the experience to determine if something is nothing or damage to your ducts. 

Duct Testing

Blower door tests and pressure tests are the best way to determine the health of your ducts. The blower door test uses pressurization to determine how much air from your ducts is making its way outside. This reflects the amount of damage in your ducts. Pressure tests seal your vents and ensure that no air is escaping within the system. 

Benefits of Replacing Old Ductwork

When you go to the expense and hassle of replacing old. ductwork, you want to know that there are real benefits. The benefits include:

Improved Energy Efficiency

When your ductwork is new, the energy efficiency is going to be at its peak performance. The heated and cooled air goes where you need it, and none of it is seeping outside of your home as it moves through the system. 

Enhanced Indoor Air Quality

Dust and allergens are no longer in your ductwork. Only air is traveling through them, and it isn’t picking up any debris along the way to push it back into your home. It can improve the house’s overall air quality. 

Better Temperature Control

With the seals properly done, and the damage gone, heated and cooled air flows through them. The rate of airflow is robust and constant, so you and your family members are always comfortable.

Choosing the Right Ductwork

When it’s time to replace your ductwork, you’ll have to make some choices. You can make the best decisions if you know more about it. Here are some choices you’ll need to make:

Materials

You have several materials to choose from. The two major kinds with their pros and cons are:

• Flexible ducting
  • Pros:
    • Less expensive
    • Easy to install
    • Less noise
    • Fewer leaks
  • Cons
    • Less durable
    • Harder to clean and maintain
    • Higher energy costs
    • Shorter lifespan
• Metal ducting
  • Pros
    • Durable
    • Fire resistant
    • More energy efficient
    • Longer lifespan
  • Cons
    • More expensive
    • Harder to install
    • Noisy
    • Require more maintenance

We can help you review your choices.

Sizing

For efficient airflow and system performance, you must have the right size ducts for your home. A professional HVAC installer can measure your ducts and provide you with your sizing options. 

Professional Installation

It’s important that your new ducts go in correctly and are sealed properly. With this type of investment, you don’t want to take a chance of doing something incorrectly yourself. You need professional installation. 

Let Crystal Clean Vents Handle Replacing Your Ductwork

The owners of Crystal Clean Vents bring more than 28 years of industry experience to your job. Our team provides you with high-quality work and materials, so your new ductwork lasts for years. We’ll provide you with the information you need to make a decision and answer all your questions. Contact us today to get started.