Fixing Your Air Ducts During the Winter

Much like any other system in your home, your air duct can experience a series of problems. These problems include the following:

• Air Leaks: This means, simply, in which the ductwork is not properly sealed leading to a leak. Signs of a leak include uneven room temperature, stifling rooms and high-energy bills.
• Contaminated Ducts: While air filters can prevent certain contaminants from entering your air ducts, it is not entirely foolproof.
• Improper Design: Unfortunately, there is no universal design when it comes to HVAC systems. Depending on the size of your home or living space indicates the required HVAC capacity. If the system is inadequately designed, there can be inefficiency as well as potential energy loss.
• Restricted Air Flow: Airflow is essential for efficient HVAC performance. When airflow is restricted, the unit will have to work harder. The result: higher energy bills, repeated breakdowns, and shortened HVAC lifespan.

Locate the Source of the Leak

When attempting to locate the source of the leak, turn on the HVAC fan and feel along the ducts for drafts that indicate that air is escaping from the duct.

Seal the Leak

Once you have located the source of the leak, turn off the fan. Once the fan is turned off, apply special metallic foil tape made for repairing ducts. Make sure to use this specific type of tape and not duct tape. If you use duct tape to seal the leak, the adhesive element will gradually become loose. Once this is done, use a brush to apply duct mastic over the tape to improve the stability of the seal.

While this is one of the numerous problems that face air ducts, there are others that you might notice.

Cleaning Your Air Ducts

A clean duct is a happy duct. If you manage to clean these ducts, you can benefit extensively.

• Elimination of Winter Allergens: There are a number of allergens that are present during the winter months. These include mold, pet dander, and dust mites. Dust mites can circulate through your HVAC system and can accumulate. If you have pets in your home, they might not shed as much during the months of winter in order to preserve their own body heat. However, the pets will still have dander that finds a way into your HVAC system.
• Combat Extra Time Spent Indoors: During the cold months of the year, most people spend a significant amount of time indoors resulting in an increase of allergens. If you run the heating system more often, allergens will tend to recirculate.
• Fresh Air: With the drop in temperatures and increase in severe weather, there is an increase in germs that lead to illnesses. By breathing in this contaminated air, you are exposing yourself to these series of germs. If you clean your ducts prior to the beginning of winter, you reduce the chances of experiencing the flu and other airborne ailments.

Restricted Air Flow

Again, restricted airflow can place a heightened workload on your HVAC system. To remedy this problem, be sure that your ductwork is installed by a reputable and experienced professional. On another note, during roofing or electrical work, make sure that contractors are visually conscious of where ductwork exists and to avoid these spots to prevent from further damage.

While there are things that you can do yourself, it’s always best to seek professional assistance. If you suspect that you need ductwork, call the team at Air Tech Pros today!