October 4, 2024
HVAC repair in Hanover, MD

When you hear the word “leak,” you probably start to panic. Whether you’re dealing with a plumbing leak or a leak in your Hanover, MD home’s HVAC system, these are household problems that can lead to expensive issues. There are several locations and ways that your HVAC system can leak, including a leak of refrigerant or leaky ductwork. Let’s look at the hidden dangers associated with these leaks and the ways that you can address the problem.

HVAC Condensate Drain Leaks

There is a certain amount of condensation coming from your HVAC system as part of its normal operation. However, this condensation must be able to move away from your HVAC equipment and home. A condensate drain line allows for this process, but clogs and leaks can occur. This is usually a minor repair job if you spot the problem early on. A sign of this issue is pooling water around your heating or cooling equipment.

Leaks in Your Ductwork

The ductwork system in your home is designed to distribute conditioned air to your various living spaces. Holes, gaps, and cracks can occur in your ductwork, leading to air leaks. This can cause a big loss of efficiency. It can also impact your indoor air quality by introducing particulate matter into your circulated air.

Refrigerant Leaks

Refrigerant is a material that allows for a heat exchange to occur when you are running your air conditioning equipment. The design of your HVAC system typically keeps refrigerant in a sealed system, but leaks can occur because of damage or routine wear and tear. It’s dangerous to expose yourself to refrigerant. Low refrigerant levels can also cause your HVAC system to run more frequently to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Refrigerant levels can be checked as part of annual routine maintenance.

What to Look For

There are some subtle, and not so subtle, signs that you can watch for that indicate there are leaks in your HVAC system.

Pooling Water or Dripping

It’s normal for a little bit of condensation to form around your air conditioning unit, especially if it’s located outdoors. However, pooling water or water stains around your furnace or other areas of your HVAC system is not normal. You may see an increase in the amount of water that is pooling if your system has been running more frequently than normal, as would be the case with extreme temperatures.

A Decrease in Efficiency of Your Equipment

If you have leaking refrigerant or leaking air, this can cause your HVAC system to run more frequently. This decreases the efficiency of your unit and can increase your utility bills. Keep an eye on your energy usage, which can indicate HVAC issues if there’s no other known cause for the increase.

Odd Sounds

Do you hear a rattling sound when your HVAC system is on? What about grinding, gurgling, or rattling? Odd sounds can indicate that you have leaks in your HVAC system.

Bad Smells

Gaps and cracks in your ductwork can introduce moisture into your system. This can quickly lead to mold growth. When mold spores circulate around your home, this can cause a musty odor. Not only is this smell unpleasant, but it’s dangerous to your health and wellbeing.

Hot or Cold Spots

Do certain rooms or areas of your home feel hotter or colder than others? These uneven spots can point to several HVAC issues, including ductwork leaks, refrigerant leaks, thermostat problems, and more.

HVAC Leak Dangers and Concerns

We touched on the dangers of mold growth in the home, which can lead to an increase in allergies, asthma attacks, and respiratory issues. There are other dangers that you should be aware of.

HVAC Equipment Damage

If you have HVAC leaks in your equipment or ductwork system, this can cause damage. This damage can lead to costly repairs. In some cases, this can shorten the lifespan of your HVAC system. Ductwork usually lasts for about 10 to 15 years. Furnaces and air conditioning devices last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. Eventually, our team may advise that you will need to replace your equipment or ductwork because repairs to them are becoming more frequent because of cumulative leak damage.

Household Damage

You may also see damage occur to areas of the home like your flooring, walls, ceilings, etc. when HVAC leaks are present. This can be expensive and inconvenient to repair.

Dangers to the Environment

Certain HVAC leaks can be dangerous to the environment. For example, refrigerant that escapes your closed system can release harmful gas into the air. Whenever work needs to be done to your air conditioning system that requires us to work on the refrigerant, there is specific protocol we must follow to prevent leaks.

Preventing HVAC System Leaks

While repairs can be made to fix the leaks in your HVAC system, routine maintenance and annual inspections can spot problems early on. This allows for minor repairs to be made before the issues get out of hand and become much more expensive. Maintenance can also prevent these leaks from occurring in the first place, keeping your energy bills low and helping you save money.

Other things you can do to minimize the risk of leaks in your HVAC system include having your ductwork sealed. Various products are available that will close any gaps, cracks, or holes that are in your system before they become larger. This is a relatively simple procedure that we can perform in one day.

Having our team monitor your furnace and air conditioner can help us spot problems with your drain lines, filter, coolant, etc. We can clean out your condensate line if it has a buildup of mineral deposits or sediment.

There are various seals that close your furnace, air conditioner, and ductwork. These seals can break down over time, causing leaks. Routine maintenance includes replacing these seals as needed.

It’s common for the bends and connections of your ductwork to break down over time. You can look for cracking, peeling, or other signs of damage that indicate the material is compromised and needs to be replaced. If you’ve recently had any remodeling work done in your home or you were moving items around the area of your furnace or ductwork, you may have inadvertently crushed areas of the ducts. Repairs or replacements should be completed before leaks cause problems.

If you would like to learn more about the potential dangers of leaks in your Hanover HVAC system, reach out to our team here at Beltway Air Conditioning, Heating, & Plumbing. We can help diagnose any problems that are present, as well as provide HVAC repairs. We also install, repair, and maintain different types of heating and air conditioning equipment. Our services also include plumbing assistance like pipe repairs and unclogging pipes, commercial HVAC, indoor air quality assessments, ductwork cleanings, thermostat installation, and more. Contact us at Beltway Air Conditioning, Heating, & Plumbing today to schedule an appointment.

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