How effective do you think your HVAC systems are? Do they properly heat and cool your homes without providing you mammoth energy bills at the end of every month? If not, you may immediately begin to blame the furnace or air conditioner itself, however before you thumb through furnace catalogs for a new unit, it may be the fault of your ductwork and not your HVAC system.
Determining if Your Ducts Are Leaking
- High Energy Bills: Are you energy bills higher than normal, yet you have not changed your heating, cooling, or energy habits? Perhaps it is your ducts leaking your hot or cold air and forcing your HVAC system to work harder to compensate for the loss.
- Hot or Cold Zones: When there is a leak, the hot or cold air struggles to reach its desired locations and results in hot or cold zones depending on the season.
- Hire an Expert: Call a professional like the ones at Four Seasons Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing to come out and inspect the ductwork. Through their expertise and equipment they will be able to give you the most definitive answer to your ductwork questions.
- Purchase a Smoke Pencil: A smoke pencil is a cylindrical device that emits a small puff of smoke upon activation. When using it next to your ductwork any leaking away would disperse the smoke in a very obvious way and allow you to pinpoint leaky ducts.
Leave it to the Pros
Before you start tearing your walls down to scour for a leak with your handy new smoke pencil, it is our recommendation that you call your local trusted HVAC professionals to give you an accurate assessment of your ductwork.
