Ductwork is the unseen network of pipes that funnel conditioned air from heating and cooling units, distributing it throughout your home. The ducts running through your house are vital elements in the HVAC system that controls your home’s temperature.
Ducts left unattended, created from an insufficient energy efficient home design, or improperly installed in the first place, will become contaminated with harmful particulates that will be spread throughout the home. Breaks in the seals that run along the ductwork labyrinth will make HVAC system units work harder, less effectively, and add usage costs to monthly energy bills.
Air Duct Cleaning
Air ducts need clear, clean passageways to deliver the conditioned air created by air conditioning and heating units. Dirty ducts affect the efficiency and effectiveness of HVAC systems and should be inspected and thoroughly cleaned at least once or twice a year.
Signs that indicate your air ducts require a good cleaning throughout the system are:
- Visible mold, dust, or other debris inside HVAC system ducts
- Evidence of insects or rodents inside ductwork, including actual animal sightings or droppings
- Airflow is impeded by dust or debris clogging air ducts
- The Environmental Protection Agency does not formally endorse duct cleaning as a cure for health issues, but many cases of anecdotal evidence indicates that ductwork cleaning can play a significant role in the quality of air inside your home.
Air Duct Sealing
Improperly connected ducts and leaks that develop over time can be responsible for significant amounts of lost air designed to cool or heat your home. Leaky air ducts make HVAC units work harder, causing them to work harder and be less effective, with some rooms not getting cooled or heated at the same rate and temperatures as the rest of the house.
There is a wide range of ductwork sealing products on the market today for DIY duct sealing projects, but it is always a bigger job than it seems and is often best left to the professionals.
- Conditions which may cause air ducts to work less efficiently, resulting in higher operational and energy costs include:
- Torn ducts
- Disconnected or poorly installed ducts
- Leaky ducts
- Airflow restricted by bend, pinches, or folds in the ductwork
- Improperly sealed duct registers and grills
Benefits to having air ducts inspected for leaks and sealed up include:
- Savings on monthly energy bills
- Increase in air quality
- Safer, healthier air
- Provides added comfort with quicker temperature adjustments
Comprehensive, regular testing and inspections of your home’s ductwork systems by industry professionals will help your HVAC systems to run at optimal conditions for the comfort, safety, and health of your home. Water tanks and water systems also need regular inspection to discover and repair leaks that affect the working conditions of these critical home operating systems.
Duct Insulation
The ductwork that runs through an attic, crawlspace, or basement made requires additional duct insulation to enable conditioned air to travel through the system without being absorbed and altered by unconditioned spaces. Duct insulation will keep hot or cold air moving without wasting energy in areas where temperature control is not needed or required.
HVAC system filters will only prevent so much dust from moving through the system and dirtying up your ductwork sections. Pollutants that are spread through dirty or leaky air ducts can harm the air your family breathes, sometimes leading to the development of allergic reactions. Regular inspection, cleaning, and sealing of ductwork will help to keep your HVAC systems running smoothly and efficiently and keep your home free of dust, mold, pollen, and other harmful debris that ducts can collect.
