Rising Cooling Costs? Your Company’s Leaky Ducts May Be to Blame

Have you noticed your company’s cooling costs rising more than usual over the summer? Are your utility bills much higher than they were at the beginning of the summer or even higher than last season?

There are a number of reasons that air conditioning prices can go up from season to season, but one that is commonly overlooked is leaky central HVAC system ductwork.

Leaky ductwork can make your HVAC system significantly less efficient, potentially even failing to cool your office down much at all, even when you have the AC running on full blast.

Here are some signs you may be facing duct leakage and how you can get it fixed quickly and on budget.

Signs Your Central Air Conditioning Ductwork May Be Leaking

Easy-to-spot but clear indicators that your AC’s ductwork might be leaking include but aren’t limited to:  

  • The vents in each office space have flow air flow. Ducts that are leaking don’t allow air to come into each room as forcefully, so if you have a leak, you may notice that the air coming out of the floor or wall register is significantly weaker in one or more rooms than others, or weaker than it had been at the start of the season.
  • Your indoor humidity goes up. If your place of business has leaky ducts, outdoor air is likely to seep inside and cause your indoor humidity to rise. Indoor humidity also goes up if your air conditioner isn’t working properly regardless, even if outdoor air isn’t coming in. This is because one of your AC’s primary jobs is to handle humidity and indoor air quality.
  • You notice a musty or moldy scent in the air, especially when you turn on your commercial HVAC system. If you have a leak in one or more of your ducts, when you turn your air conditioning on, you may smell the air coming right out of that ductwork – and if your ducts are dirty, it’s likely to smell mildewy or musty like a basement.
  • You hear knocking or rattling sounds coming from your air conditioner when it’s on. When the fan is running, if you hear rattling, tapping, knocking, or other noises besides a quiet hum, this could indicate that there are tears or holes in your ductwork.

Sealing Your Commercial HVAC Ducts

If you notice your ductwork is leaking, you should take steps to seal your ductwork and ideally have them cleaned at the same time. Much to the surprise of most homeowners, however, duct tape doesn’t actually fix duct work.

Typically, you need to hire an HVAC professional to seal your ducts. It may be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to locate all the potential leaks and adequately seal them. For example, a professional has access to special tools to detect even the smallest leaks, various types of metallic tape, and mastic sealant to ensure your company’s ducts are once again airtight.

Get Help with Your Commercial HVAC Needs Today from N.E.T.R., Inc.

At N.E.T.R., Inc., we’ve been helping businesses like yours maintain efficient, cost-effective heating and cooling for their offices, warehouses, and other establishments since 1989.

Contact us today to learn more about troubleshooting air conditioning problems or to get help with sealing, repairing, and servicing your air conditioner. Call now at (781) 933-6387.

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