A bad air duct system can negatively impact your home and indoor air quality. While there are different factors that make poor indoor air quality, an improperly maintained HVAC system is a significant one. This can lead to some health issues. Ranging from headaches to congestion, allergies, and asthma. This is why keeping your air conditioning system properly maintained is vitally important to keep the entire household healthy.
Your HVAC system could be pulling polluted outdoor air into your home due to leaks. And because of dirty air ducts, some unwelcome things can add to that, even more polluted than outdoor air. Allergens can contaminate the air and stay in rarely used areas in your home, like the attic, the basement, and crawl spaces.
The duct system can create negative air pressure in your home. This means that the HVAC unit draws in more air from the outside to balance out the pressure. Because of this, the air being drawn into your home is unfiltered and can raise the level of pollutants.
A poor HVAC system can also affect the humidity in your home, making it uncontrollable. If this stays long, it will cause mold and mildew, which can also affect the indoor air quality and sabotage the cleanliness of your home. Mold growth starts in warm and moist areas. It can be also found in some sections of poorly maintained HVAC ducts.
Of course, a bad HVAC system with cracks and leaks automatically works harder to function, which more likely makes it worse. This can put a lot of pressure on the system and can cause its efficiency and performance to decline faster, which also increases your energy bills. It will cost you expensive repairs or even replacements.
While there are not any enormous problems yet, it’s important to perform proper maintenance to avoid costly consequences. Although there aren’t studies that support the idea that uncleaned air ducts make you sick, they still can, especially for allergy-prone household members. Getting air duct cleaning services regularly and having them checked can improve the system’s performance and avoid leaks and other problems that can lead to bigger ones.
What indicates a poor HVAC system?
High Energy Bills
Some air can be escaping while flowing through the ducts. But you will eventually notice your energy bills increase when more than 20 percent of air escapes. This is most likely due to air leaks. Because of air leaks, the temperature in your room is not sufficient even if it’s set at the right temperature setting. This inefficiency is what causes your bills to inflate, especially if you’re not using energy-eating appliances.
Inconsistent Temperature in Different Parts of the House
As a homeowner, you might uncover that some rooms are improperly warmed or cooled compared with the rest of the house. This can be because of faulty ductwork, making air refuse to flow in certain parts of your home. If you find it hard to tell, you can easily figure it out using an indoor thermometer. If the difference in temperature is clearly uneven, then it might be time to have your air ducts inspected.
Pest Problems
Old and damaged duct systems can also cause a pest infestation. It’s not uncommon for little critters and insects to roam around the ducts. When they do, they can cause damages. You’re more likely able to hear them scampering through the system. Ants and other insects can be difficult to sense, but you should often see them escaping through the vents.
Once you notice noises in your ducts, take action right away before it causes some serious damage. Pests can easily build a community and cause further problems in the long run. They can cause unpleasant smells and the spread of bacteria and microbes.
Mold and Mildew Growth
Mold and mildew can grow in old and damaged HVAC systems as well. They are caused by poorly connected and poorly insulated ducts. Mold and mildew thrive if there are uneven temperatures inside and outside the vents. When warm air travels through cold ducts, condensation occurs, mold can develop over time and you’ll be able to smell it.
Air flows in through the supply ducts and out the return ducts every time you turn on your heating or air conditioning system. The air ducts running through your home are a crucial part of your HVAC system. At times, you can be confused to find out that there are many HVAC and ductwork systems that are improperly maintained or even installed.