Your system runs, the thermostat says the house should be comfortable, and one room still feels like a different climate. Before you blame the equipment, look at the ductwork. The ducts are the part nobody sees, and in an older home they have usually been through a lot.
Here are the signs of leaking ductwork, where to look, and what a repair involves.
Why leaky ducts matter
Your furnace, heat pump or air conditioner heats or cools the air. Your ducts carry it to the rooms. Every gap, loose joint or torn run lets some of that air out into the attic or crawlspace instead.
ENERGY STAR says that in a typical house, about 20 to 30 percent of the air moving through the duct system is lost to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts. The result, in its words, is higher utility bills and a house that is hard to keep comfortable no matter how you set the thermostat.
Why older Rogers County homes are more likely to have them
Ducts get checked less than anything else in the house, because they sit in attics, crawlspaces and walls. The longer a house has stood, the more years its ducts have had to work loose. ENERGY STAR points to ducts in an attic, crawlspace or garage as the ones most likely to perform poorly.
That does not mean your house has a problem. It means that if you live in an older home in Claremore, Inola, Oologah or the country around them, the ducts are worth a look.
Signs your ductwork is leaking
Some rooms never reach the temperature you set
A room stays hot in summer and cold in winter while the rest of the house is fine. Leaks, crushed runs and too few returns can all do it.
Your energy bills creep up and nothing else changed
If the bill climbs and you have not changed how you use the system, ask whether conditioned air is escaping before it gets to you.
Dust and stuffy air
Dusty air can point to leaks in the ducts.
Visible damage
If you can reach part of the ductwork, look for:
- Flexible duct that is tangled, kinked or crushed
- Joints and seams that are open or coming apart
- Torn or missing insulation on ducts in the attic or crawlspace
- Gaps where a register or vent meets the floor, wall or ceiling
ENERGY STAR names the connections at vents and registers as common places to find leaks and disconnected duct.
What you can check yourself
- Hold your hand over a supply register while the system runs. Weak airflow in one room, compared with the others, is a clue.
- Look at the ducts you can reach. A flashlight at the attic hatch tells you a lot. Stay on the framing, and skip the attic in the heat of the day.
- Check the filter. A dirty filter can cause weak airflow too, so rule it out first.
- Note which rooms are the problem and tell the technician.
Do not seal ducts with ordinary duct tape. ENERGY STAR says it does not last, and recommends mastic sealant or metal tape on accessible leaks instead. Ducts hidden in walls, ceilings and floors are hard to reach, and that is a job for a contractor.
What a repair looks like
A technician looks at the duct runs, the returns and the connections, finds where the air is going, and shows you. From there the fix depends on what is wrong:
- Repairing a torn or loose run, or replacing it
- Sealing joints and connections
- Insulating ducts that run through the attic or crawlspace
- Adding a return, or balancing the system so each room gets the air it should
We do this work for homes in Claremore and across Northeastern Oklahoma. See our ductwork page for what we do, and our service area for the towns we cover. If the ducts are fine and the equipment is the issue, our maintenance page explains how a tune-up works.
Ready when you are
Send a message and we will get back to you, or call to talk it through.
How do I know if my ducts are leaking?
Rooms that never reach the set temperature, dusty air and rising bills can all point to leaks. A technician can inspect the runs and show you where air is escaping.
How much air do leaky ducts lose?
ENERGY STAR says about 20 to 30 percent of the air moving through a typical duct system is lost to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts.
Can leaky ducts make some rooms hotter or colder than others?
Yes. Undersized, crushed or leaky runs and too few returns are common causes of uneven temperatures. Balancing and repairs often fix it.
Can I fix leaking ducts with duct tape?
No. ENERGY STAR says duct tape does not last. Use mastic sealant or metal tape on leaks you can reach, and call a contractor for ducts inside walls or ceilings.
Who repairs ductwork?
Most heating and cooling contractors do. Vickrey Heat & Air repairs, seals and insulates ductwork, adds returns and balances airflow for homes in Claremore and Northeastern Oklahoma.