A central air conditioning system can begin operating less efficiently for a number of reasons, and one of these reasons is due to leaks in the air ducts. A central AC system distributes air to rooms through the ducts, but leaky air ducts can cause a major loss of cool air. This leads to problems cooling a building or home, but it can often be repaired by a company that offers air conditioning services.

Why air ducts leak

Air ducts are made of metal and are connected in pieces throughout the walls and ceilings of a building. The sections of duct work can come loose, which causes leaks to form, or the air can escape through the metal itself.

Air duct leaks tend to happen more when they are in areas that are not conditioned, such as attics, crawlspaces, and garages, but leaks can also occur from ducts found in the walls of the building.

How to diagnose leaks

If you feel like your AC system is not cooling your building as fast as you would like, it may be due to this problem. To find out, hire an AC repair company to perform a leak test on your air ducts. This is often done by running a blower test in the ducts. The company will then test the airflow coming from the registers to determine if the airflow is correct. If the airflow level is lower than it should be, it is a sign that there are leaks within the system.

Steps to fix the leaks

After discovering that there are leaks, the AC company will fix them by beginning in the areas they can easily access, such as the attic. To stop the leaks, they will inspect every piece of the ductwork they can reach. They will connect any parts that have come loose, and they will also add insulation to them. Sealing the leaks can also be accomplished by adding tape and caulk.

After repairing all the leaks they can access, your AC system should run more efficiently, and it may run a lot less too.

If the leaks are bad, you might be losing 20% to 40% of the cool air your system produces, and this could add up to a lot of money. Losing cool air through leaks is also a waste of energy. You can stop wasting energy and money by hiring an air conditioning repair company to fix any air duct leaks you may have.