The air ducts in your Roseville, CA home are an important feature that helps to deliver conditioned air to your various living spaces. This conditioned air is key for maintaining a comfortable temperature but also achieving healthy indoor air quality. Ductwork generally lasts approximately 10 to 25 years, depending on how much maintenance and care it has received over its lifetime. In addition to repairs, having your air ducts sealed can help you save money and improve the quality of your ducts.
The Basics of Ductwork
Ductwork is typically made of metal, with some different types of flexible PVC tubing and connections completing the setup. Your ductwork is connected to your heating and cooling equipment. Air enters this system through intake vents in the home. As this equipment runs, the conditioned air will then move through the ductwork. That ductwork reaches the various spaces of your home through registers that are installed in each room.
Most homes these days are a completely closed-loop system, meaning that they don’t intake any air from outside of the home. This can help you maintain better indoor air quality and comfortable temperatures. The conditioned air keeps circulating through whenever the system runs.
Damaged Ductwork Problems
Over time, ductwork can experience damage from routine wear and tear. You may notice that your ductwork is starting to form cracks or gaps in certain areas that were previously connected. This is a problem for several reasons.
Efficiency Loss
The amount of time that your HVAC system runs will determine how much money you’re spending on your utility bills. While you want your home to feel comfortable, it’s not beneficial to run your equipment all the time. Frequent use can lead to more repair needs and a diminished lifespan of your equipment and related parts.
As your system ages from use, it can become less efficient. Various gaps and cracks can also cause conditioned air to escape the system, causing your system to run more. Having your ducts sealed can close this system back up so that it’s more efficient. Duct sealing is a rather affordable process. What you pay for duct sealing can save you money on your monthly bills, making it a worthwhile investment.
Decreased Indoor Air Quality
The quality of your indoor air is important to your health. If your indoor air contains a lot of particulate matter from things like pet dander, pollen, dust, mold spores, and volatile organic compounds, this can put you at an increased risk of allergies, asthma, respiratory illness, fatigue, and headaches. Particulate matter can enter your ductwork through various gaps and cracks that should be sealed.
If you have a freshly sealed ductwork system, this can allow you to get a better handle on your indoor air quality. Now that we know there isn’t anything entering your air through ductwork gaps, we can perform an indoor air quality assessment to see what kind of particulates you’re dealing with and where they may be coming from. We can recommend specific equipment and methods to help improve IAQ. This often includes the installation of a whole-house air purification system. Particulate matter will be removed from the air circulated through your living spaces thanks to a specialized filter. Whole-house purifiers often use HEPA filters, which can remove up to 99.97% of particulate matter. Activated carbon filters are also popular for removing volatile organic compounds and odors.
You can also address indoor air quality issues with a whole-house dehumidifier or whole-house humidifier. A sealed system should prevent excess moisture from accumulating in your ductwork and home. However, other factors can contribute to the relative humidity in your home. This includes a lack of ventilation and weather. We recommend using an upgraded thermostat to monitor the humidity inside your home. We can help you determine if equipment is needed to help you manage these levels. Ventilation equipment like exhaust fans is another way to address indoor humidity. By sealing your ductwork and preventing mold, you’re avoiding an expensive and extensive remediation process.
Pest Infestations
Small pests can make their way into your HVAC system through any small open areas. Cracks don’t have to be very big for insects and other intruders to enter. This is an ideal location for these pests because it’s dark, dry, and warm. Sealing your ducts can inhibit these pests from getting into your ductwork. This can save you money by not having to schedule pest control services.
You can also save money by not having to replace sections of your ductwork damaged by pests. Duct cleaning is something that may also be necessary if pests are making a mess of your ducts. This is a beneficial task you should perform every few years anyway, but more frequent cleanings will cost you money.
Issues With Your Equipment
As particulate matter enters gaps and cracks in your ductwork, it can also enter the interior components of your heating and cooling equipment. This can cause problems that require expensive repairs. You may notice more frequent repair needs with the additional wear and tear placed by dirty equipment and ducts.
Providing Consistent Comfort
Do you have spots in your home that feel warmer or cooler than others? These hot or cold spots can be caused by ductwork issues. As conditioned air escapes, there may not be enough air that can pass into your living spaces. Sealing your ducts can promote consistent airflow.
What Is the Process of Duct Sealing?
Duct sealing is a process that can improve the function of heating and cooling equipment. Products like foil tape and sealing products will be applied to areas of the ducts that appear to have gaps. For areas that are much larger and can’t be sealed with these methods, we recommend that you replace small sections of your ductwork.
There are situations where we may choose to seal your ductwork from the inside. This is a process that requires experience and specialized equipment for proper placement. A liquid mist-based sealant is the most common product to use for this process.
Detecting Leaks in Your HVAC System
There is a specific process that we use to check for compromised ductwork. After removing the registers and grilles of your system, we will plug these spaces. We will then pressurize your ductwork to check for any leaks using various computerized readings. We will also perform a visual inspection of the areas of ductwork that we can access to see if we spot problems.
If you would like to learn more about the process of duct sealing and how it can save you money, reach out to our team here at Environmental Heating & Air Solutions. In addition to duct inspections and duct sealing, we provide services such as the installation, repair, and maintenance of heating and cooling equipment. We also offer plumbing services for different types of water heaters. Allow us to install fans, home automation, insulation, zoning systems, and more. Contact Environmental Heating & Air Solutions today to schedule an appointment.
