If your home has a central HVAC system, it has a duct network essential to your comfort. Problems with your ducts will not only make you less comfortable but pay more for the comfort you enjoy. Let’s explore two services that can help you avoid these issues but aren’t part of a seasonal tune-up.
Duct Cleaning
Even with regular dusting of your home and seasonal HVAC maintenance, dust will accumulate in your ducts. Duct cleaning is a professional process through which a technician removes that buildup. The first step is to inspect and evaluate the ducts. Prior to cleaning the ducts, our technician will seal off the register boxes to avoid any disturbed dust entering the home.
The next phase involves using an industrial vacuum. This vacuum is powerful enough to create negative pressure within the ducts, which ensures we remove all dust and other debris. If it’s been a long time or you’ve never cleaned the ducts, some of the accumulation can be stuck. We have a wide range of tools to remove it, including brushes, air whips, and nozzles that let us target problem areas.
Continuous negative air pressure ensures that we remove even the finest airborne particles and leave nothing behind. We also use a specialized containment device. It has an integrated high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system that ensures we remove all the debris from your home.
Video Camera Inspection
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends scheduling a video camera inspection of your ducts annually. By doing so, you’ll know when your ducts need cleaning. It’s about every two to three years for the average home. You’ll also know if you need duct repairs or sealing.
During the inspection, we’ll use a device known as a borescope. It has a reel of high-strength but flexible cable that we can navigate through your ducts. At the end of the cable is a high-definition camera. On the unit itself is a high-definition monitor that lets us see what the camera sees. In the event there is a problem, the monitor also lets us show you so that you can see it for yourself.
Airflow
Air pressure is an important concept in ductwork design. With the right pressure, cooled and heated air flows through your vents and into your rooms in a balanced way. If there’s an imbalance, you’ll get weak airflow from one or more vents. It often leads to cold and warm spots. Poor airflow may cause entire rooms to feel too cool or too warm. In multistory homes, it can cause temperature differences between floors. Dust accumulation can create this imbalance over time. As it accumulates, it creates air resistance through blockages, and each new layer adds to that resistance.
Indoor Air Quality
The other issue with duct buildup is air quality. Even light buildup can cause bad odors in the home. It can make it difficult to have your home smell fresh, especially when you seal it up for summer or winter. At first, you may notice a mustiness when the system kicks on, and then it’ll fade. Over time, those unpleasant smells will become more persistent and pervasive.
Another thing to understand about dust is that it absorbs other pollutants and continues to release them into the air. This problem extends beyond odors. It diminishes indoor air quality and may affect your health. It can be particularly problematic for those with asthma and allergies.
Duct Sealing
Metal ducts are prone to air leakage over time. Even brand-new ducts will not be 100% efficient. The Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that air leakage is around 20% in the average home and can be as high as 40% in the worst cases.
A range of issues can contribute to this loss. The primary issue is worn seals between joints. These seals can wear out over time or tear because of failed mounting hardware or an impact. Cracks and other imperfections in the duct walls can also cause this loss.
There are multiple techniques for duct sealing. We use the aerosol method, which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends. This process begins with an exterior and interior inspection. Our team can perform any necessary manual repairs.
The next step is to seal off the register boxes, which prevents aerosol from entering the home. We’ll then use a specialized machine to inject aerosol particles into the ducts. The leakage will naturally draw these particles to the problem areas. The particles will seal cracks and other imperfections, including gaps in joints.
Heating and Cooling Costs
One of the biggest concerns with air leakage is cost. If you’re losing 20%-40% of your heating and cooling, you’re paying a lot more than you should. Your system also has to work harder and run longer. That means more repairs, a shorter lifespan, and a much higher total cost of ownership. Through aerosol-based duct sealing, we can get those losses below 5%.
Ductwork Repair
It’s also important to have us perform maintenance on your ducts as needed. Some duct issues require manual repair, such as replacing mounting hardware and resetting duct pieces. If a section is damaged beyond repair, you can replace it without having to replace all the ducts.
Airflow
The airflow impact of dust accumulating in your ducts can take years to manifest, while the impact from a bad seal can manifest overnight. Depending on the severity of the leakage, you’ll likely notice wild temperature differences throughout your home. You may raise or lower the thermostat setting a lot more than you usually do. Air leakage can also affect humidity. This is a big problem in summer when the hot and humid air from the attic or crawl space gets into the ducts.
Indoor Air Quality
When your ducts leak conditioned air, air from within the attic or crawlspace replaces it. That means that you get even more dust and particulates in your ducts. Some of it settles in there, but much is airborne and flows into your home out of your vents. There’s also a big concern if you have any fuel-burning appliances. Air leakage in ducts can create a back draft scenario in which exhaust fumes enter your ducts and then your home.
Pest Prevention
Broken seals are the main way that pests get into your ducts. That includes bugs like cockroaches but also mice and other rodents. This is a major health concern because the flow of air will distribute substantial pest debris throughout your home.
Would You Like to Clean and Seal Your Ducts in Dayton?
If you’d like to clean and seal your ducts, Universal Heating & Cooling is here to help. We’re a locally owned and operated company that’s provided these services throughout Dayton, Springfield and the surrounding areas since 1976. Our HVAC technicians perform ducted and ductless heating and cooling installations, maintenance and repairs, and emergency repairs. We also specialize in duct cleaning, attic insulation, and UV lights. Our company also offers maintenance plans that can save you money and keep your equipment on schedule. Call today or contact us online with questions or to schedule a consultation or service appointment.
