Are Your Air Ducts The Cause of Your High Energy Bills?
Nobody likes high energy bills. But worse than the high energy bills is not knowing how to lower them. There are many causes of high energy use in your home and we have already talked about a few ways to reduce them. But did you know your air ducts may be losing up to 20% of your heated and cooled air?
That’s right – according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the leaks, holes, poor connections, cracked seals and lack of insulation in your ductwork can cause up to 20% of the air moving through your ducts to be lost.
What causes leaking air ducts?
Much of the ductwork for your home heating and cooling system runs through unconditioned spaces (like garages, attics and basements). That means your air ducts are subject to the extreme hot and cold temperatures present in these areas most of the year, which can cause seals to crack and deteriorate. Another common cause of leaking air ducts is improper installation.
How to tell if your air ducts are leaking
If your heating and cooling system’s air ducts are leaking, there will be signs. Some of the symptoms of leaking ductwork include:
- High utility bills – The loss of heated and cooled air through holes, cracked seals and insufficient insulation will contribute to high utility bills. If your energy bills spike in the middle of summer or winter, your air ducts could be leaking.
- Hot & cold spots – While there could be numerous causes of hot or cold areas in your home, leaking air ducts is a common one. The further away from your central air conditioner or furnace, the more uncomfortable the hot and cold spots will be.
- Excessive dust – Holes and cracks in your ductwork can let in dust and debris from the attic, walls or basement. Homes with leaking air ducts are much more dusty.
If you think your air ducts are leaking, contact a qualified heating and air conditioning expert for help repairing them.
Nicholson Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning serves the HVAC and plumbing needs of the residents of Framingham, MA and the surrounding areas.
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Francis from Nicholson Plumbing and Heating was excellent. He was here to evaluate HVAC in our home. He was very patient and answered all my questions. He is also polite and easy to communicate with him. He explained technical concepts to me in layperson terms!
- Shelley S.
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Nicholson offered what is possibly the best customer service I have dealt with in a home repair situation. I called them because I was looking to replace my very old furnace. They came out to do an initial estimate, and then came back when I had some further questions about my options. After installing the furnace, they ran into some problems with my air ducts. This happened on a Friday, and the problem was fixed by Monday afternoon. In addition to their excellent service, they did quality work at a fair price. I would recommend them to anyone looking for an HVAC company in the Framingham area!
- Melissa T.
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Recently used these guys because my HVAC unit AC wasn’t working (first hot day of summer). Showed up on time, wore booties, fixed the unit. During the visit we talked about how my unit was having problems in the winter – which was resulting in NSTAR service calls of maybe 3-4 times per season (I am on a service plan with them). He was the first guy to tell me WHY the problem was happening, and HOW to fix it. I find it strange that all of the NSTAR guys etc. no one took time to point out how to fix the source of the problem…Very professional, smart. I would use them again, and plan to for the fix on my heating unit!
- Ben J.
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Nicholson Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning is the best and most reliable source for electrical service. We are proud to be Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Elite Contractors, that have gone through extensive accreditation and training in order to provide proven high-quality service. Get in touch with us whenever you need to have electrical work done in Framingham!
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