3 Important Things to Look Out for In Ducting When Purchasing a Home
Purchasing a home can be an exceptionally long and involved process. There is a long list of things that you must consider when choosing your home. So, it is no wonder that the ducting is often overlooked when it comes to consideration. However, ducting carries the conditioned air you breathe in your home and is something you should take seriously. Not to mention the potentially large amount of money you would have to spend to replace it down the road if the ducting is in bad shape. So, there are a few things you should pay attention to when it comes to ducting inspection in your potential home.
Age and Condition
Unlike the furnace or condenser, the ducting does not come with a label to track its age. If the original ducting is present from when the home was first built you can track it by the age of the home. If it is not the original ducting or the records for past upgrades are not available, you can determine the age of the ducting by its condition. Ductwork lasts approximately 10 years. After that time, you may see sagging, cracking and disconnection at the joints. Cracks and disconnected joints will allow debris from the attic to be dispersed throughout your home. It will also cause conditioned air to be lost in your attic space or walls which is ultimately very inefficient and causes poor airflow. If you observe any of these things occurring the ductwork may need to be repaired or replaced soon.
Location
For the sake of longevity, its good practice to have your ductwork serviced and inspected regularly. However, for some homes this is not feasible due to access or lack of. In many multi-family homes (i.e. townhomes, condos) the ductwork is in the walls. This makes it exceedingly difficult to access for inspection and even more difficult to replace. It also restricts you from knowing the condition of the ductwork before you buy the home. In some homes, the ducting is accessible, but it is in a small attic space. Smaller attic spaces make the access difficult for HVAC contractors to service and replace and may lead to higher prices. The most ideal scenario is to have ducting in a fair-sized attic space.
Asbestos
Asbestos is the most important thing to be looking for when it comes to ducting. Asbestos is a mineral that was heavily used in the past in the US. Many homes that were built in the 1950-80’s were built with asbestos ductwork. However, asbestos ductwork is extremely hazardous to have in your home. Asbestos exposure can lead to several health conditions, primarily mesothelioma. If asbestos ducting is present in your prospective home, you will need to consider how much it will cost to have it removed and have the ducting system replaced.
Adding these considerations to your long to-do list when purchasing a home may seem daunting. The great news is you do not have to do it alone. We offer our customers thorough HVAC inspections to address any concerns you may have and more. So, while you absolutely should pay attention to these three points about the ductwork in your next prospective home you can do it with the guidance of an expert. Call LA Construction Heating and Air today at 818-341-3406 or contact us online to schedule your HVAC inspection.
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