How Damaged Ductwork Is Wasting Your Conditioned Air (and Money)

You’re not alone. We hear it all the time from homeowners around West Michigan — “My furnace runs constantly, but it still feels cold in here!” or “Why is my bedroom freezing while the living room feels like summer?”

It may come as a surprise, but your heating or cooling system probably isn’t to blame. It’s often what connects everything together — your ductwork.

Most homes lose 20–30% of their heated or cooled air through leaks, cracks, or gaps in the duct system. That’s air you already paid to condition — just slipping away into your attic, crawlspace, or basement.

Let’s take a closer look at why it happens — and how to put a stop to it.

1. Your Air Is Escaping Before It Even Reaches You

Your HVAC system works hard to produce warm or cool air — but damaged ducts let that air leak out along the way.

If there are holes, loose joints, or gaps in your ductwork, that air ends up in unheated places like your attic or crawlspace instead of your living room.

Think of it like filling a leaky bucket — you’re pouring energy (and money) right out through those cracks.

2. Your System Has to Work Harder (Which Costs You More)

When so much air escapes, your thermostat keeps telling the system to “try again.” That means your furnace or AC runs longer and harder than it should — burning more fuel or electricity in the process.

And the harder it runs, the higher your bills go. It’s like driving with a tire that’s slowly going flat — you might still get where you’re going, but it takes more effort and costs you more gas.

3. Some Rooms Feel Like the Arctic, Others Like the Sahara

Leaky ducts often reveal themselves through hot and cold spots that just won’t go away. If one room always seems stuffy while another never gets warm, air might not be reaching those spaces evenly.

When air leaks out before it arrives, your system can’t keep your home balanced — no matter how often you adjust the thermostat.

4. It’s Wearing Out Your HVAC System, Too

All that extra runtime doesn’t just cost you money now — it shortens your HVAC system’s life in the long run.

Fans, motors, and compressors wear down faster when they’re overworked. Over time, all that extra strain adds up. Parts wear down faster, repairs become more frequent, and before you know it, you’re shopping for a new system years earlier than you planned.

When your ducts are sealed properly, your HVAC can finally breathe easy — running smoother, lasting longer, and saving you money every month.

5. Dust and Dirty Air Are Sneaking Into Your Home

When ducts leak, air doesn’t just escape — outside air can sneak in, too.

That means dust, insulation fibers, pet dander, or even smells from your basement can get pulled into your airflow and blown around your house.

If you’re cleaning more often than usual or notice musty odors when the heat or AC kicks on, leaky ducts could be part of the problem.

6. Moisture and Mold Love Leaky Ducts

Here in West Michigan, we get humid summers and damp basements — a perfect mix for moisture problems.

When ducts leak in those areas, moisture can get pulled inside, creating a breeding ground for mold. Those musty odors are just the beginning—mold and poor air circulation can make the air in your home less healthy to breathe.

If your ducts run near a gas furnace or water heater, leaks can also cause backdrafting — where exhaust gases are pulled back into your home. That’s one more reason to get those leaks sealed tight.

7. The Longer You Wait, the More Expensive It Gets

Small leaks often grow into big ones. Tape dries out, metal expands and contracts with temperature changes, and joints loosen.

If caught early, repairs are simple and affordable. But if ignored, damaged ducts can lead to major replacements — or sky-high utility bills month after month.

Every day you wait, more of your heated or cooled air (and money) is disappearing.

How Much Money Could You Be Losing?

Let’s put some numbers to it.

If your home’s heating and cooling costs about $1,200 a year, and you’re losing 25% of that air through leaks — that’s $300 a year wasted.

Over 10 years, that’s $3,000 — enough to pay for a vacation, a home upgrade, or several professional duct cleanings!

Simple Ways to Tell If Your Home’s Ducts Are in Trouble

You don’t have to crawl around your attic to spot the signs. Watch for:

• Higher-than-usual energy bills
  
• Rooms that never feel quite right
  
• Whistling, rattling, or hissing sounds from vents
  
• Dust collecting quickly on furniture or vents
  
• Musty or “dirty” air when your system turns on
  
• Visible gaps, loose connections, or sagging ducts in basements or crawlspaces
  
  

If any of these sound familiar, it’s worth having your system checked.

What You Can Do About It

Good news — fixing damaged ductwork isn’t complicated when you know where to start:

• Schedule a professional duct inspection. Experts can test for leaks and blockages quickly.
• Close up any gaps using HVAC-approved sealant or metal-backed tape. Skip the regular duct tape — it dries out fast and won’t hold.
• Repair or replace damaged sections.
• Insulate ducts that run through attics or crawlspaces to prevent heat loss.
• When your ducts stay clean, your HVAC runs better, and your indoor air feels noticeably fresher.

Minor upgrades often lead to major improvements in how efficiently (and comfortably) your home runs.

Why It’s So Important for West Michigan Homes

Our weather swings are tough on ductwork. Between freezing winters and humid summers, ducts expand, contract, and wear down faster here than in milder climates.

Older homes in West Michigan are especially vulnerable — many have ducts that haven’t been touched in decades. Sealing them properly can make your home more comfortable, lower your bills, and even help your HVAC system last longer.

Let’s Stop the Waste (and Keep the Comfort In)

When your home’s comfort feels off and your utility costs won’t quit rising, your duct system deserves a second look.

At Lakeshore Air Duct Cleaning, we’ve helped homeowners all over West Michigan find and fix duct leaks, improve airflow, and breathe cleaner air. We handle duct inspections, cleaning, sealing, and repairs — so you can stop wasting energy and start feeling comfortable again.

Call Lakeshore Air Duct Cleaning today to schedule your ductwork evaluation. Let’s keep your conditioned air — and your hard-earned money — inside your home where it belongs.