Thinking about air duct replacement? Making this decision can be tricky, especially if you’re concerned about the time and money involved. For this reason, we have valuable information to help you decide. Keep reading to learn more about when it’s time to replace your air ducts and why you shouldn’t pass on this important process.
The Need to Replace Old Air Ducts
How many years have passed since your last air duct replacement? Or are you still dealing with the same air ducts that came with the house…when you bought it 20 years ago?
Air ducts are designed to last a good 10 to 15 years.
However, when you pass that timespan, you’re likely to experience issues. The joints, seals, and seams wear down over time, or worse yet, their materials are just plain outdated. So, air duct replacement makes a lot of sense when you consider the idea of installing new (and better) materials.
Also Read this: How do you know if your ducts need cleaning
Increasing Energy Bills
If your utility billing statements start to reflect sharp increases, and you know the rates haven’t gone up, then it’s time to replace your air ducts.
High energy bills indicate an overworked HVAC system. This is often caused by tears and leaks in your AC air ducts or worn-out seals and seams.
Decreasing Air Flow
As a result of the factors mentioned above, the air flow travels out of these “holes” in the ducts instead of flowing out of the vents. So if you have old or worn-out air ducts, the airflow from the vents will decrease in intensity. Consequently, this condition leads to a lack of ventilation and uncomfortable room temperatures. You’re looking at a decrease of 20% to 30% of air lost, according to Energy Star.
Mold Infestation on the AC Air Ducts
One of the most serious signs involves mold growth in your ducts. And you’re looking at several different causes:
- High humidity
- Condensation
- Inadequate ventilation (which prevents the evaporation of the moisture created by the first two factors)
- Buildup of organic material (dust, pet dander–all of which serve as the food sources for mold)
When you combine all these factors with warm temperatures, you have a recipe for a mold disaster. And considering how mold causes severe health issues if you have asthma or a weakened immune system.
Regardless, it’s time to replace the air ducts and improve your home’s air quality. Also, learn about the 5 common types of mold in ducts that may affect your system.
Musty Odor
Damaged ducts also lead to musty odors due to the same factors that bring about mold: condensation and high humidity levels.
Mold and mildew growth cause the bad smells that originate in your ducts and flow through your vents.
Therefore, if you still detect a musty “damp” odor even after having your air ducts cleaned, you might consider replacing them before an annoyance becomes an even bigger mold problem.
Air Duct Pest Problem
Likewise, when critters start nesting in your ducts, you need to replace them. From insects to rodents, the walls of your air ducts take a beating from pests. Similar to the situations already mentioned, your seals and seams sustain damage and tears. Aside from the structural damage, health hazards are usually the natural consequence of a pest infestation.
Luckily, when you replace your air ducts, you’re not only eliminating the old, damaged material but also gaining a new system that’s fabricated from pest-resistant material. Plus, the seals, seams, and walls are more durable than the ducts from a decade or more ago. So the long-term benefits outweigh the time and cost.
Noisy HVAC System
Contrary to how it may sound, that rattling is not your HVAC motor. If the joints in your ducts are damaged, then they’ll rattle and vibrate, sounding almost like a faulty mechanism. Likewise, if you hear a whistling, it means the walls of your ducts have holes. Whatever the cause may be, you might consider air duct replacement as the solution since the current parts are so loose that you can hear them rattling through the vents.
Faulty Air Duct System Design
Unfortunately, you might also have to deal with a system design that doesn’t work efficiently for your home. Although this situation seems rare, you might be the one who has this stroke of bad luck. That means having to go back (preferably with a different set of reputable, licensed professionals) and repair or redo the current design.
Previous Poor Air Duct Replacement or Installation
Similar to the faulty design, you might have the misfortune of faulty installation, the wrong size of ducts, or both. Another scenario involves a tech overlooking an issue while repairing your ducts, or a well-intentioned crew member accidentally tearing a duct during a renovation.
Once again, you’re back at “square one,” but not replacing the air ducts with more durable materials that are measured and fabricated correctly could result in higher energy and repair costs later on.
Increased Allergy and Respiratory Issues
Plus, worn-out air ducts lead to dust, pollen, and other particles flying into your home. In turn, you experience more sneezing, itchy eyes, or worse, breathing issues.
All the unwanted particles and debris enter your living space from the tears in your air duct seams and from loose joints. Once you replace the worn, damaged system, your air quality improves right away.
Also Read this: Can Air Duct Cleaning Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Visible Air Duct Damage
And the most obvious reason involves the damage that you can see when you go into the attic. You can’t deny the dents, bite marks, tears, and separated joints. However, depending on the results of a professional inspection, a replacement might be the more cost-effective solution compared to repairs.
When to Repair vs Replace
Of course, you have to consider the pros and cons of air duct replacement versus having repairs done, especially once an inspection has been completed and the tech has laid out everything that needs to be fixed.
Just to give you an idea, the average cost of applying a manual sealant to your ducts falls between $500 and $1500, including parts, warranty, and labor. If you opt for a high-end sealant that lasts longer, then you’re looking at $2000 to $5000, depending on the size of your ductwork.
However, the starting cost for an air duct replacement ranges from $4000 to $6000, but if you’re experiencing the signs that we’ve mentioned, you may have to go with this option.
Before you take that next step and decide whether or not to replace your air ducts, call a professional for a thorough inspection of your system. An air duct inspection will tell you exactly what you’re dealing with, which is why we encourage you to contact us at IAQ Experts. We’ll walk you through the replacement process, along with every minute detail of our findings. You can count on us to get you closer to healthier air quality in your home.
