What is a common symptom of duct leakage?

A common symptom of duct leakage is inconsistent air temperatures. When air ducts leak, the conditioned air intended to reach specific areas of a building may escape into unconditioned spaces like attics or crawl spaces. This results in uneven distribution of air, leading to some rooms being too hot or too cold compared to others. As a result, occupants may notice that certain spaces do not achieve the desired temperature, which can significantly affect comfort levels within the home or building.

Inconsistent air temperatures are a direct consequence of the loss of conditioned air and can lead to other issues, such as increased energy costs and strain on the HVAC system as it works harder to maintain the set temperature. Therefore, identifying duct leakage is critical for ensuring efficient heating and cooling performance.

While low noise levels may be a characteristic of well-sealed ducts, it doesn't relate directly to duct leakage. Similarly, high humidity levels can stem from a variety of sources not necessarily linked to duct integrity. Increased energy efficiency is typically associated with well-sealed ducts, whereas leakage generally leads to an increase in energy consumption due to the HVAC system's compensatory efforts.