Your home is the one place where you want to feel truly comfortable. During the humid Georgia summers, that usually means a home that can offer an escape from the heat.

But you may find your house isn't able to remain as cool as you'd like. While most people blame their air conditioning unit, the problem may really lie with the ductwork. These problems, such as leaks, can reduce your system's efficiency by 20% when left unresolved.

How Ductwork Impacts Airflow

HVAC ductwork is made up of two lines. The supply line delivers air to your home. Issues with this line can affect the temperature and volume of air your home receives. The return line takes air from your home and uses it to feed your HVAC system, and problems with this line can starve your HVAC of a sufficient air supply. 

The size, design and positions of your home's ductwork directly impact how well your AC unit cools your home. Ductwork that's too small means your AC has to work harder to overcome the increased static pressure, while overly large ductwork means it may struggle to move the required volume of air.

If your ductwork isn't designed, installed, or maintained properly, it will affect airflow throughout your home, making it harder to cool it.

Signs of Inefficient Ductwork

There can be several reasons why your home isn't staying cool in the summer. Together, these signs could point to inefficient ductwork:

  • Temperature variances: If you walk from one room to the next and notice a difference in temperature, it could indicate issues with your ductwork's supply line. When your HVAC system is unable to cool your home uniformly, the airflow is imbalanced.
  • High energy bills: Inefficient or leaky HVAC systems must work harder and use more energy to cool your home, leading to higher energy bills. 
  • Dust accumulation: Excessive amounts of dust around vents imply that dusty air is being pulled into the ductwork's return line. In most cases, this dusty air is entering through leaks in the ductwork found in your attic or basement.
  • Poor airflow: A weak or unsteady airflow coming from your HVAC could be caused by blocked vents, duct leaks or disconnections, a dirty air filter, problems with the blower motor, or undersized ductwork.
  • Loud duct system: Improperly sized ductwork can increase air pressure, resulting in noisier air movement. It can also force the blower to work harder and create more noise.

How to Determine if Ductwork Is Impairing Airflow

These steps can help you determine if poor ductwork is hampering airflow in your home.

Inspect for Damaged Ductwork

Over its lifetime, ductwork can be damaged by any number of things, from people and pests to simple wear and tear. Exposed ductwork will often be found in your attic or basement. Inspect it for signs of damage, such as:

  • Dents
  • Tears
  • Disconnected ducts
  • Crushed ducts
  • Peeling tape
  • Damaged mastic

Check for Obstacles

Next, check wall grilles, throw paths, and diffusers for obstructions. These obstacles can disrupt airflow, either preventing the supply line from delivering air into your home or stopping the return line from accessing a sufficient volume of air. Common obstacles include furniture, drapes, and false ceilings.

Examine Filters

Dirty or incorrectly fitted filters significantly impact your HVAC system's performance. A clogged filter restricts airflow, increasing static pressure within the ductwork. This forces your system to work harder to push air through, leading to reduced efficiency and potentially higher energy bills. Regularly replacing or properly fitting your filters creates optimal airflow and reduces strain on your HVAC system.

Do a Smoke Test

Using a smoke machine or a stick of incense, you can run a simple smoke test to help identify areas in your home where airflow isn't optimal. To run a smoke test, simply:

  1. Close all windows, doors, and other access points to your home. 
  2. Turn off all window fans and any appliances that use combustion fuel.
  3. Turn on the thermostat fan and all exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathrooms.
  4. Use your incense stick or smoke machine near any exposed ducts. If smoke is sucked into the duct, it means there's a leak.

You can also use this test to see how well your return line is pulling in air, as well as if there are any air leaks in other access points of your home. You can carry out a door test to check your home for pressure imbalances, too.

DIY Solutions to Common Air Duct Problems

You can typically solve many minor duct problems yourself. Easy and effective solutions include:

  • Removing obstacles from grilles
  • Cleaning dirty or dusty filters
  • Replacing old or damaged filters
  • Covering small air leaks in ductwork with mastic sealant or duct tape

However, DIY solutions won't always solve airflow problems. When the leak is occurring in hard-to-reach places, or if you're unable to detect the cause of the problem, call in a professional ductwork company in Atlanta. Using their knowledge and specialist equipment, they'll be able to identify the problem and suggest a fix. This solution could range from small repairs in hard-to-reach places to replacing parts of your duct system.

Local and Professional Ductwork Services in Atlanta

Airflow issues in your home can cause other problems that make your home uncomfortable. While you can solve some of these concerns yourself, many will require a professional Atlanta ductwork contractor.

At One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning®, we use our decades of experience to deliver a high-quality and fast duct repair service to homeowners. Beyond helping you cool your home, our duct services can improve your home's indoor air quality, lower your energy bills and increase your comfort within your own home.

As area locals, we offer reliable duct services in Atlanta to ensure your HVAC problems can be solved as soon as possible. We also guarantee to arrive at your home within the allotted time frame. If we don't, we'll provide your services free of charge.

To find out more about how we can fix and improve your home's duct system, contact us today.