Your attic’s ductwork is an important part of your HVAC system and needs to be kept in great shape to ensure smooth and safe airflow in your house. However, few people pay attention to their ductwork in the attic until it’s too late and severe issues have developed. As a result, you might need to consider replacing ductwork in attic areas to ensure that your home is safe. You can also read through this guide to understand what is going on and what you can do about it.
Why Your Attic Ductwork Goes Bad
Attic ductwork typically has a maximum lifespan of about 20-25 years and usually starts showing signs of real problems after about 15 years or so. That might seem confusing because your ducts are metal, but even metal can wear down with time. Furthermore, your duct system’s operation can cause it to shake, which could put wear and tear on its operation as well.
Typically, most experts state that it’s important to consider replacing or installing new ductwork once it’s about 15 years old. Even if it hasn’t hit that 20-25 year point yet, getting replacement ducts at this point can be a major benefit. It can upgrade your airflow, ensure that it operates smoothly, minimize potential damage to your HVAC system, and improve its overall operation.
Just how exactly does your ductwork get damaged with time, and is there anything you can do to avoid it? Well, calling a professional to check for leaking joints and broken connections can help. You also need to install adequate support systems to ensure that the ducts move air smoothly and minimize potential blockages, which can greatly reduce how well your air moves in the ducts.
The natural vibrations caused by air flowing through ducts will cause some wear and tear problems with your HVAC system. However, natural heating and cooling, as well as condensation caused by air conditioning, can also be a culprit here. Simply put, your HVAC is a victim of the natural wear and tear that operating causes. As a result, there’s not a lot you can do but replace your ductwork when the time is right.
Costs You Can Expect
When getting the ductwork in your home’s attic or elsewhere replaced, it’s essential to know what kind of costs you’re likely to run into here. There are many different factors that can affect these prices, including what kind of ducts you want to use, which materials make the most sense for your home, and the amount of ductwork that you need to replace in your house.
For example, Home Guide states that it costs about $25-55 per linear foot to replace your ductwork, $270-500 per duct run, and up to $1,400-5,600 to replace the ductwork in a home. How much it costs in your attic will vary. For example, you might just have a few leaks that can be easily repaired by a professional to get your ductwork running smoothly and efficiently.
In this case, a duct repair job might cost about $400-2,700, depending on the size of the leak and how many of the ducts you seal. Note that repairs will cost less than replacement. However, repairs are often like putting a bandage on a major cut: they might help a little, but not completely.
As a result, it’s important to reach out to a professional who can help you understand the costs of your ductwork more effectively and ensure that you’re on the right path with your home improvement steps. Don’t try to handle these repairs yourself: you’re more likely to cause problems with your home than you are to fix it properly. In this way, you can avoid issues.
Help is Available for You
Even if you find that the problems with your ductwork are small, it’s still best to reach out to a professional who fully understands duct replacement. Yes, you might be able to handle some basic leak repair or even a little attic duct installation. But improper alignment, poor material choices, and other issues might make your leaks even worse. Don’t take that risk: simply work with a professional that you can trust to ensure that you get the high-quality ducts you deserve
