Leaky Attic Return Duct

We're inspecting a homeowner's attic in Little Silver, NJ, where we discovered a leaky return duct. This duct is allowing attic air to seep back into the return duct and, consequently, into the conditioned rooms of the house. This situation is problematic for several reasons. Firstly, the attic contains fiberglass insulation, and when the return is operational, it draws in fiberglass particles that can circulate into the conditioned rooms, compromising air quality. Moreover, we detected rodent droppings and evidence of rodent urine, further exacerbating the contamination issue. These contaminants are then pulled back into the conditioned rooms, resulting in poor air quality for the homeowner. Additionally, during summer months when the attic temperature exceeds 140 degrees or drops below 40 degrees in winter, the system pulls in hot or cold air respectively, leading to discomfort in the conditioned rooms and increased energy costs for the homeowner.