It’s mid-April and airconditioning season will soon be upon us. One thing we can do to get ready is to take a look at our ductwork. A few weeks back I took this picture at an inspection and saw that it was just an isolated section — perhaps a simple fix. A few weeks before this photo I entered an attic and every duct was split open like this — a major issue that needs attention. I recommend a licensed HVAC professional evaluate the situation and then proceed from there.
Four Reasons Damaged Ductwork is a Concern
In hot attic spaces or where exposed to UV light, the plastic vapor barrier of this flexible air conditioning duct material disintegrates leaving its fiberglass insulation exposed to also begin to disintegrate, leak, or possibly blow into the living space of the home.
- Wasting money because of a loss of efficiency – in the summer cold air in the ducts are heated up in the hot attic, in the winter the hot air in the ducts are cooled off as it passes through the cold attic.
- Wasting money because the conditioned air is leaking into the attic – the duct work is deteriorating and will begin to leak blowing your hot or cool air where it isn’t needed.
- Increased hazard of breathing in fiberglass insulation particles – the fiberglass particles circulates in your system and eventually in your living space where you can breathe it.
- Increased hazard of microbial growth – water can more readily form on the ducts (as the cold air passes through the hot space water can form on the outside of the duct – just like a glass of cold water left outside on a hot day collects water droplets on its surface).
