The system of ducts that carry heated and cooled air throughout your home are often forgotten since they're hidden behind the walls. But these ducts can often develop leaks as they age. Leaky ducts force your air conditioner and furnace to work extra hard to keep up, which puts wear and tear on these appliances while also increasing your energy bills. So, be on the lookout for these four signs of leaky ducts -- and contact an HVAC professional if you notice them.

Uneven Heating or Cooling

You might notice that some rooms in your home heat up or cool quickly, while others seem to take forever to reach your desired temperature. Though this problem can be caused by an undersized furnace or air conditioner, it is more often caused by leaky ducts -- especially when it shows up out of the blue. Air is probably leaking from the ducts before reaching the slow-heating rooms.

Warm Spots On The Walls

Run your hands down the walls upon which your heat vents are found. It's normal for this part of the wall to feel a little warmer since the warm duct is running behind it. But if you detect any distinct "hot spots," this is probably a sign that the duct is leaking behind that hot spot. Similarly in the summer, you should suspect a leaky duct if you feel any overt cold spots on a wall.

An Excess of Dust

If you notice that your home's air has become increasingly dusty, start by changing your furnace filter. If this does not fix the issue and the new filter seems to get dirty within a matter of days, then you probably have a leaky duct. Dust from between the walls may be getting sucked into the duct through the gap. Eventually, the dust is blown out through your home and some of it is trapped by the filter.

Banging Noises

Do you hear what sounds like cracking and banging coming from behind the walls after the heat or air conditioning turns on? When a duct becomes misplaced and starts leaking, the metal can heat unevenly and expand at different rates. This causes the cracking noises you're heating.

If you think your ducts may be leaky, talk to your HVAC contractor about duct sealing. This procedure closes up any gaps or leaks in your ducts, making for lower bills and a more comfortable home. For more information, contact a business such as Augusta Mechanical Heating & Air Conditioning.

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