
All About Leaky Ducts: Signs, Symptoms & Solutions
When it comes to our homes, we can often spot visible issues such as leaky roofs, drafty windows, or outdated appliances. But another culprit often goes unnoticed, silently impacting our comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. We’re talking about leaky ducts!
Read on to learn all about leaky ducts, the common signs to watch out for, and what you can do to address this issue.
What Are Leaky Ducts?

Leaky ducts are a common issue in many homes, particularly in older houses or those with poorly designed or maintained HVAC systems. These systems rely on a network of ducts to send warm or cool air throughout your home. But when your ducts have holes or gaps where air escapes, it can compromise the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.
Recognizing and Addressing Leaky Ducts
When it comes to the comfort and efficiency of your home, recognizing the common signs of leaky ducts is essential. Here’s a closer look at these warning signals and what actions you can take to address them.
- Inconsistent Temperatures: Feeling like your home is playing favorites with its rooms? Inconsistent room temperatures are a red flag for leaky ducts. Conditioned air escapes before reaching its destination, causing discomfort. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), this inefficiency can significantly impact your home’s comfort and energy usage.
- Higher Energy Bills: Money talks, and leaky ducts can make it say more than you’d like. The DOE estimates that, on average, 20-30% of the air moving through duct systems is lost due to leaks. This loss leads to increased energy consumption and higher utility bills.
- Dust in the Air: Do you often find yourself dusting your home endlessly or battling worsening allergies? It might be your ducts at play. Leaky ducts can draw in dust, dirt, and allergens from crawlspaces and attics, blowing them into your living spaces. This can contribute to health issues and increased cleaning chores.
- Noisy HVAC System: That hissing sound during your HVAC system’s operation? It’s not just an annoying noise; it could be your conditioned air escaping through duct leaks. This impacts both your energy bills and your peace and quiet.
- Visible Damage or Disconnected Ducts: Sometimes, it’s plain to see – ducts in disarray, especially in areas like the attic or crawlspace. These clear indicators signal the need for urgent attention to your ductwork.
What to Do About Leaky Ducts
If you suspect leaky ducts in your home, it’s vital to take action to address the issue. Here’s what you can do:
- Schedule a Professional Inspection: Contact a reputable HVAC technician to inspect your ductwork. They can assess the extent of the leaks and recommend the best course of action. This initial step is crucial for proper diagnosis and solution planning.
- Seal and Insulate: In many cases, sealing and insulating your ducts is a cost-effective solution. This involves using mastic or metal-backed tape to seal leaks and adding insulation to maintain the right temperature for your conditioned air.
- Consider Duct Replacement: Sometimes, your ducts may be too damaged or old for sealing and insulating to be effective. In such cases, replacing your ductwork may be the best long-term solution for energy efficiency and comfort.
- Regular Maintenance: Preventing future duct leaks is just as crucial. Schedule regular HVAC maintenance to catch issues early and ensure your system operates efficiently.
take action with goettl services
Your home’s comfort and efficiency should never be jeopardized by leaky ducts. If you’re facing any of these common duct problems or have a suspicion that your ductwork needs some TLC, it’s time to act. With Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing, you can rest assured that your ducts will receive top-notch treatment, paving the way for a comfortable and energy-efficient home.
Testimonials
What Our Customers Say About Us
After note. Cameron came back by a day later to check on readings he wasn't able to get on first appointment. I have high confidence in his work. I'm very likely to work with them again
Brayan and Marcos did an awesome job on the new ac installation. Installed with no issues and has been on ever since. Perfect time with summer coming up. Walked through and job was very clean and organized. Great work ethic. Great guys.
Good Customer Service is terribly undervalued. GREAT customer service is almost unheard of nowadays. That above all, when paired with truly quality work will always ensure not only a return customer, but also brand loyalty.
Update - our air conditioner went out today (10/26/23) and JEHAD showed up to repair the issue but the issue was bigger than expected. Tomorrow we will have a brand new system! Goettl is an EPIC firm that treats customers right. Thank you again JEHAD for going above and beyond.
Goettl is the epitome of what excellent customer service is! Our Drain King, DAREAN, addressed all of our questions and concerns and not only unclogged our drain but went above and beyond to show us our drains leading to the street were free and clear of any other issues. Thank you Darean and thank you Goettl for a great experience!
Update: great experience with Edgar Loredo who kept it real with us and was very transparent. I appreciate his honesty and recommendations. Will be requesting him as our technician in the future if we choose to use Goettl
2/15/23
Thank you, Jorge G. Again for being so honest about our unit issues.
Kathy
H. Navarro
Frank Soto, plumber was very thorough in his assessment of the problem. Provided options and was patient in waiting for our decision. We are very pleased with Frank's knowledge plus his warm personality was a plus. Thank you Frank.
H. Navarro
Jeremy Ortega service tech did an excellent job removing, cleaning and reinstalling the flame sensors along with servicing the HVAC blowers. We are set for the next 2 years. Thanks again Jeremy.
H. Navarro
Thank you!
09/19/2024 - Husam Ismail did an outstanding job!!! Very personable and honest, so far with my experience with
Goettl he is the best technician that i have encountered.
02/11/2024 - Josh L. did a fabulous job!!! He was very personable and fast. Great experience, I would recommend Goettl to anyone.
Today is 21 July Sam stopped by and service was excellent 👌. Ralph was excellent, great customer service
Thank you goettl
Explain testing and clarified cost.
I was impressed.
Brayan, Jason, and Christian were the three techs who installed the unit and new ducts. They showed excellent work ethic. They cleaned up all debris, and most importantly, the system works perfectly. Today Ignacio came and inspected the work, and found no problems at all. The entire team has earned 5 stars.
November 6, 2024. The team Brayan, Christian and Jason worked awesome in replacing our whole A/C system and air ducts. They were respectful of our property, answered our questions without hesitation. They all did a fantastic job. We thank ya'll for your services and definitely recommend your business. We appreciate you.
November 7, 2024: Ignacio inspected the newly installed air condition and duct system. He was very knowledgeable, and good expertise. He listened and answered our questions and concerns..he helped us to install our Sensi a/c and heater app..
Fe Alexander
Leticia and Ed Baca
We had an blockage in our sewer line.
Tyler Leija was dispatched the same day, and found the blockage using a camera tool.
He cleared the blockage temporarily.
The actual fix would require digging up and replacing the bad area of pipe.
Paulo "Adrian" Dado and his crew came out the next day with backhoe, dug up the area, and replaced the section of pipe.
The next day, after inspection, Adrian and his crew filled in the hole and then cleaned up the area.
This is a brief description. There was A LOT of work involved.
Very professional work.
Our tech Jorge that came out the day before helped quickly assess the situation and get us set up for a new system and water heater. Jorge was very friendly, would highly recommend!
Frank did an excellent job at explaining every thing in terms that were understandable to both myself and my wife. This greatly assisted in making the right decision to look at all options on either repair or update/purchase for the future and in the long term, saving money.
Will definitely call and use
Goettle again and I will ask if Darrean could help again.
Couldn’t be happier. Came all the options