Your AC runs all afternoon. The thermostat never gets there. Before you blame the unit, look up.
The ducts in your attic carry cold air from the system to every room. Old tape, a bad install and years of attic heat wear them out. When they crack or pull apart, the cold air you paid for goes into the attic instead.
Here's how to tell if your ducts are leaking, sign by sign.
The four signs
One room is cool, another is an oven
The living room feels fine. The main bedroom feels like July on the patio. That uneven feel is one of the first signs of a duct problem.
A crack, a hole or a loose joint lets the air escape before it reaches the room at the end of the run. If you keep turning the thermostat down just to make one room bearable, leaky ducts are a likely cause.
Your power bill jumps for no clear reason
Everyone's SRP or APS bill climbs in the summer. A sudden spike that doesn't match how you use the house is different. That one is worth a look.
When cold air leaks into the attic, the system runs longer to cool the rooms you live in. In plain terms, you're paying to cool your attic. Sealing the leaks cuts that waste and takes strain off the compressor, so it lasts longer.
The dust comes back in days
Dust is part of desert life, and a monsoon haboob makes it worse. But if the shelves need dusting a few days after a full clean, check the ducts.
A leak in a return duct works like a vacuum. It pulls dirt, bits of insulation and allergens out of the attic and blows them into your rooms. If allergies act up more indoors than out, move the duct check up your list.
You can see it or hear it
Sometimes the proof is right there. A whistle or a hiss at a vent can mean air is forcing its way out through a narrow gap. A steady, quiet hum is normal.
A quick look you can do yourself
If you can get into your attic safely, a short visual check tells you a lot. Go early in the morning, before the attic heats up.
- Look for gaps where two duct sections meet.
- Look for crushed or kinked runs that choke the airflow.
- Look for old duct tape that is peeling or flaking off.
- Listen at the vents while the system runs, for any whistle or hiss.
Found one of these? Don't wait on it. A system that runs under strain all summer can wear out early, and that costs a lot more than a sealed joint.
What we do about it
Our duct repair visit starts with an inspection to find where the air is getting out. We show you what we found and give you the price before any work starts.
Then we seal or replace the bad sections so the cold air reaches your rooms. If the ducts turn out fine, we'll tell you that too.
Leaky ducts are just one cause of hot rooms. Our residential HVAC work covers the rest of the system.