Ductwork Repairs to Prepare for the Changing Seasons

In Michigan, the seasons don’t shift gently—they arrive in full force. From the biting cold of January to the heavy humidity of July, your home’s heating and cooling systems work overtime to keep up. But what many homeowners don’t realize is that the comfort they feel—or the discomfort they notice—often starts not at the furnace or the AC unit, but in the ductwork itself.

Your duct system is the highway that moves warm or cool air through your home. When it’s functioning properly, it keeps your living space comfortable, your energy bills reasonable, and your indoor air fresh and healthy. But when those ducts are damaged, leaking, or poorly insulated, everything suffers—especially as the seasons change.

Ductwork is one of the most overlooked systems in a home because it’s mostly out of sight. But just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not affecting your daily comfort. Leaky ducts can waste up to 30% of your system’s airflow, meaning your heating or cooling unit has to run longer and harder just to maintain the right temperature. That leads to higher utility bills, reduced system lifespan, and rooms that never seem to feel “just right.”

You may not think to check your ductwork until something goes wrong—like a room that won’t warm up, musty smells coming through the vents, or an unexplained spike in your energy usage. But waiting for those signs often means the damage is already done.

Understanding Your Mobile Home’s Ductwork System

How Ductwork Works in a Mobile or Manufactured Home

Ductwork serves as the delivery system for your HVAC unit. It carries conditioned air—warm in the winter, cool in the summer—from the central unit through supply ducts and distributes it into each room via registers or vents. Meanwhile, return ducts pull stale air back into the HVAC system for reconditioning.

In a mobile home, this system is compact and efficient, but it’s also more exposed. The ducts run through the underbelly (the space between the flooring and the ground), which is often insulated and covered by a belly board or vapor barrier. This setup works well when properly sealed and protected—but even small breaches can quickly lead to major inefficiencies.

Key Ductwork Components to Know

To better understand the risks and repair needs of your mobile home’s ductwork, it helps to know the basic parts involved:

• Supply Ducts: Carry heated or cooled air from the HVAC unit to your home’s living spaces.
• Return Ducts: Pull used air back into the system to be filtered and reconditioned.
• Registers & Vents: Outlets in each room that control airflow into the space.
• Insulation: Surrounds the ductwork to minimize energy loss and prevent condensation.
• Crossover Ducts: In double-wide homes, these connect the two sections and are a common failure point.
• Belly Board: A protective barrier beneath the home that shields ductwork and insulation from pests and moisture.

Unique Challenges for Mobile Home Duct Systems

Because your ductwork is tucked away underneath your home, it faces unique environmental and structural challenges that site-built homes don’t. These include:

• Crawlspace Moisture: Michigan’s wet spring and humid summer months can introduce moisture that leads to mold, mildew, and rust within ductwork. Damaged belly board or torn vapor barriers only accelerate the problem.
• Animal Damage: Rodents, raccoons, and other wildlife often nest under mobile homes. Chewed insulation, torn ducts, and displaced crossover ducts are all common results of animal intrusion.
• Shifting Foundations: As mobile homes settle or shift with the freeze-thaw cycle, duct joints can become disconnected, kinked, or crushed—especially if the ductwork wasn’t secured properly to begin with.
• Aging Materials: Over time, duct insulation breaks down, seals weaken, and moisture can cause corrosion or soft spots. Older ducts may also be made from lower-grade materials not up to today’s efficiency standards.

Common Issues Found in Mobile Home Ductwork

If you’ve lived in your home for several seasons without a professional duct inspection, you might be experiencing some of the most common problems mobile homeowners face:

• Air leaks due to separated or torn ducts
• Inadequate insulation leading to energy loss
• Collapsed or sagging ducts restricting airflow
• Mold or mildew from trapped moisture
• Animal nests or droppings inside duct lines
• Dust and debris buildup affecting air quality

These issues might not be visible, but they often show up as higher utility bills, musty smells, or rooms that never feel quite warm or cool enough.

The Repair Process: What to Expect from a Professional Ductwork Service

Full Inspection With Airflow Testing and Visual Assessment

Every duct repair project begins with a thorough inspection. A professional will assess both the performance and physical condition of your system. This typically includes:

• Checking airflow from each register
• Measuring pressure to identify restricted or leaky ducts
• Inspecting the underbelly for sagging, tears, or visible duct damage
• Looking for signs of condensation, rust, or animal activity

This step ensures the repair team understands the full scope of your ductwork problems before beginning any fixes.

Identifying Holes, Tears, Animal Damage, and Disconnections

Once the inspection is complete, your technician will locate all the areas of concern. Common issues in mobile homes include:

• Loose connections where ducts have pulled apart from the main trunk line or registers
• Torn insulation or holes caused by rodents or physical wear
• Disconnected crossover ducts in double-wides, often sagging or completely detached
• Cracks or tears in the belly board that allow moisture, air, and pests inside

Professionals know where to look and how to spot even subtle signs of damage.

Sealing and Insulating With Code-Compliant Materials

After identifying the problem areas, the next step is sealing leaks and insulating exposed or vulnerable ducts. This includes:

• Applying mastic sealant or UL-approved foil tape to patch gaps and cracks
• Reinforcing duct connections with clamps and hangers
• Installing R-rated insulation to reduce heat loss or gain in seasonal extremes
• Sealing the belly board or vapor barrier if it’s been compromised

Proper sealing keeps your HVAC system running efficiently and prevents air loss during peak heating or cooling seasons.

Replacing Collapsed or Crushed Ducts Under the Home

In some cases, sections of ductwork are too damaged to repair and need full replacement. This is especially common if:

• Ducts have been crushed by improper storage or home settling
• Rodents or raccoons have chewed through the entire segment
• Moisture has caused rust or mold to weaken the duct walls

Professionals will remove the failed section and replace it with durable, high-efficiency duct materials that meet modern building codes and mobile home standards.

Sanitizing and Removing Debris, Dust, or Mold

If animals have entered your ducts—or if moisture has caused mold or mildew—sanitizing is an essential part of the repair process. This may involve:

• Vacuuming or brushing out accumulated debris and nesting material
• Applying antimicrobial treatments to eliminate mold and bacteria
• Replacing air filters and, if needed, fogging the system to neutralize odors

This step ensures your home’s air is clean and safe to breathe once the system is sealed and operational again.

Ensuring Proper Register Function and Securing Vent Covers

To complete the job, the technician will verify that air is flowing properly from all vents and that the registers and covers are secure. Loose or broken vent covers can reduce airflow and provide easy access for pests or dust infiltration.

You’ll also receive a walkthrough of what was repaired, replaced, or cleaned—along with maintenance tips to keep your duct system in good shape as the seasons change.

Breathe Easier and Stay Comfortable All Year

Ductwork may be hidden beneath your home, but its impact is front and center when it comes to your comfort, energy bills, and indoor air quality. Whether it’s the dead of winter or the peak of summer, your HVAC system depends on a well-sealed, properly insulated duct network to perform efficiently and reliably.

Yet for many mobile and manufactured homeowners, this essential system goes unnoticed—until something goes wrong. That’s why seasonal transitions are the ideal time to inspect, repair, and reinforce your ductwork. Taking action now means fewer surprises later, especially when the weather swings into extremes.

Don’t wait for that first cold snap or summer heatwave to find out your system isn’t up to the task. By addressing ductwork issues proactively, you can stay ahead of breakdowns, avoid high utility bills, and ensure your home remains safe and comfortable in every season.

Schedule Your Duct Inspection with Homesaver Today

Whether you need a quick patch or a full duct overhaul, Homesaver Contracting Company is Michigan’s go-to specialist for mobile and manufactured home ductwork repairs. We bring 15+ years of hands-on experience, responsive service, and honest craftsmanship to every job—so you can breathe easy knowing the job was done right.

📍 Location: 680 Quatro Lane, Addison Township, MI 48367
📞 Call Today: (586) 610-8608
📧 Email: homesavercontractingco@gmail.com
🌐 Website: www.homesaverremodeling.com