Forced air heating is definitely one of the most commonly used types of heating in the US. While the system is fairly simple, there is still a part of it that is very vulnerable to damage which can greatly diminish the return on the energy spent heating the air up, and that is the ducts that funnel the air into the different areas of your home. A leaky duct can cost you quite a bit, since it can lead to you losing the hot air when it leaks into a crawlspace or attic while it at the same time takes in cold air into the duct. Ducts are much more likely to start leaking near the HVAC unit since the pressure is higher there, but it could happen anywhere along the way. Another problem that leaky ducts bring is that the air in the spaces where the leaks are could have a lot of dust or odors which would then be funneled into your home.
