Duct work is one of the three main components of your home air conditioning system. The other two are the outdoor condensing unit and indoor air handler.  The latter two typically share one big thing in common: more often than not, they’re located in the attic.

That means, in turn, that you have to out of your way to see either. This blog is all about encouraging you to do just that. For starters, you should clean or replace your AC filter about every two weeks, there’s one reason to climb those attic stairs.

And now for the other and the main point of this blog: keeping an eye on your ductwork. Your air duct system is probably made of sheet metal (although fiber glass is increasingly being used) and held together by screws. That means it’s a lot like your outdoor gutters, and air ducts and gutters alike are prone to leaks in the joints, fittings, and seams.

While duct leaks aren’t always easy to spot, there are other signs that some amount of separation has occurred causing conditioned air to escape into your attic and outdoors where it does you no good at all.

Here’s what to look out for:

• Reduced comfort – If you have to lower the thermostat to enjoy the kind of comfort you’re accustomed to, leaky air ducts are one possible cause.
• Increased energy costs – As air escapes through a fitting or seam, more energy is consumed to keep you cool, thus driving up your utility costs.
• Poor indoor air quality – Even as conditioned air is escaping to parts unknown, airborne pollutants like dust, dirt, bacteria, mold and mildew are finding their way inside.  From there, it’s a short distance to your living spaces and, ultimately, your lungs.
• Reduced safety – The fumes from gas furnaces, wood stoves, and other household appliances also can get pulled into your ductwork when not properly sealed. That leads to more health risks and the possibility of a fire.

If “things” just don’t feel right with your air conditioning or forced air heating system, contact Absolute Air so we can accurately diagnose the problem. And that includes inspecting your ductwork for possible air leaks. If that turns out to be the problem, we’ll professionally seal your ducts once you approve our guaranteed upfront price quote.