Leaky Ductwork & Your Baton Rouge, LA Home: Understanding the Costs

Leaky ducts are a common problem, but they’re also a costly one. The average home experiences some amount of air leakage through the ducts. If you haven’t inspected your ductwork recently, you may be suffering from this issue and paying the price.

How Your Ducts Work

Your home’s air ducts are sheet metal pathways that direct the movement of air throughout the home. When your heating or air conditioning system cycles on, the blower pushes air through the ducts. From the ducts, air should move effectively around your house, exiting through the air vents located throughout the dwelling.

The State of Typical Ductwork

Gaps and holes are common in ductwork. This is especially true of older homes, as this type of damage occurs naturally over time. In the average home, around 20% of the air meant to heat or cool the living space is actually lost through leaks in the ductwork. By some estimates, leaky ductwork may cause an average efficiency loss of 30%.

What Leaky Ducts Cost You

Air loss through leaky ducts translates directly to higher utility bills. When your system is losing air, it will simply have to pump more through to compensate and still maintain your home’s desired temperatures. Air loss of 20% costs you an extra $0.20 for every dollar spent on your heating or cooling. Over time, this can add up to a lot.

How to Handle Leaky Ducts

If you have trouble maintaining comfortable temperatures in your home or you’ve noticed your utility bills are on the rise, you may be suffering from leaky ducts. Professional duct repairs are the best way to handle this issue. If your home is older, you may want to consider professional duct cleaning as well.

If you suspect that there’s leaky ductwork in your home, contact our team at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Baton Rouge. We can inspect your home and assist with any repairs that you might need.