There are air ducts in your St. Petersburg, FL home that are an essential part of your HVAC system. As air is warmed by your furnace in the winter, this air will move to the various rooms of your residence through your ductwork. People often assume that ductwork will last forever. However, routine maintenance, repairs, and duct replacement will eventually be needed.
On average, ductwork is designed to last anywhere from 15 to 25 years. This time frame will be shorter if maintenance isn’t performed. Duct sealing is one option that you have for protecting and prolonging the life of your ductwork. Let’s look at what this process entails and how it equates to comfort and efficiency.
Understanding Ductwork Systems
Home ductwork typically consists of rigid metal ducts (galvanized steel or aluminum) and flexible ducts made from a combination of wire coils, plastic (like PVC), and insulation. Everything connects to your furnace and air conditioning equipment. As your furnace warms air during the winter, ductwork is responsible for circulating that conditioned air. Most homes in the St. Petersburg area have a closed-loop HVAC system, which means that air is only circulated throughout the interior of the home; no air comes in from the outside. This allows for better efficiency and healthy indoor air quality.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for ductwork to become damaged. This can happen due to recent work being done in your home where someone accidentally bumps into the ductwork. Additionally, normal wear and tear over time can also lead to damage in your ducts. Even pests can cause damage to the ducting, leaving a mess behind. Sealing your ducts can help create a more secure and repaired system and promote improved comfort and efficiency.
What Is Duct Sealing?
There are several products that can be used for the process of duct sealing. This includes foil tape and liquid sealants that cure to a hard surface once they are dry. Spray sealants can be applied to the inside of your ducts for whole-system efficiency and comfort. These products are ideal when there are small points of damage to your ductwork. If you have more extensive damage, it might be necessary for sections of your ductwork to be replaced or different products to be used.
Finding Leaks and Damage in Your Ductwork
A visual inspection can spot larger issues with your ductwork, but we can also use special camera equipment to inspect your ducts from the inside. We can remove all of the registers and vents in your home, plugging your system before it is pressurized and checked for leaks. Whatever issues we detect can be repaired using various methods. We also prioritize the routine maintenance of your ductwork to ensure comfort, efficiency, and optimal indoor air quality throughout your home.
Boosting System Efficiency
Heating your home during the winter months can get expensive. This price increases if you have cracks or gaps in your ductwork that are allowing conditioned air to escape. This also lets cool air inside your ducts, which can decrease the temperature of the air circulating into your living spaces. This forces your furnace to run more frequently to keep up with your heating demands. That not only means higher heating bills, but more wear and tear on your furnace that will cause breakdowns requiring heating repair service.
When you have duct sealing performed by someone from our team, these various cracks and gaps are removed. You should see a decrease in the amount of energy that you use each month, which lowers your utility bills.
Also, regarding efficiency, increased heating demands caused by leaky ducts can damage your heating (and cooling) equipment. As your system works harder to keep your home comfortable, you may see more wear and tear placed on your equipment. This can lead to decreased efficiency, more frequent repair needs, and a shorter system lifespan.
Improving Your Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is something you need to prioritize as a homeowner for your health and comfort. If there is a high concentration of particulate matter circulating in your indoor air, it can potentially exacerbate allergy symptoms such as sneezing and coughing, worsen asthma, and lead to respiratory issues such as shortness of breath. Poor IAQ can even cause headaches and fatigue.
By sealing your ductwork, you prevent contaminants from being able to enter your ducts and then circulate throughout your home. Common household particulates include dust, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander and fur, and messes left behind by pests and rodents.
If you would like to further improve the quality of your indoor air, we can install a whole-house filtration unit onto your HVAC system. This equipment will filter out any particulate matter that is present in your air before it circulates through your home. Depending on the type of equipment you have, you may be able to remove as much as 99.97% of the particulate matter in your air.
Moisture Concerns
When you have damage to your ductwork, moisture can accumulate inside your ducts. Not only can this cause damage to your ducting, but it can allow mold to grow. If you have mold present in your ducts, this allows for a fast spread of spores into the various rooms of your home. This can quickly make you and your family sick.
Sealing up your ductwork is ideal to prevent moisture from entering your system. If you still struggle with condensation problems or high levels of relative humidity in the home, reach out to our team to find out about the installation of a whole-house dehumidifier. This equipment will remove moisture from your indoor air, bringing your relative humidity to a more acceptable level between 35% and 50%.
Addressing Pest Infestations
As we mentioned, pests can make their way into your ductwork. They love this location because of how dark and warm it is during the winter when they’re trying to find refuge from the cold temperatures outside. We recommend having your ducts inspected, cleaned, and sealed once every three to five years. If you suspect a pest infestation in the meantime, you should have the problem assessed by a professional. Your indoor air quality and comfort can decrease greatly if you’re breathing in things like pest waste material.
Warm and Cold Spots in the Home
When air can escape your ductwork before it reaches certain living spaces in your residence, this can lead to cold spots during the winter. If you have certain rooms that feel drafty or cold but you can’t figure out why, your ducts may be to blame. You’ll experience more consistent and comfortable air throughout your home after a duct sealing.
For more information on professional duct sealing and other duct repair services, reach out to Air Zero today. In addition to ductwork maintenance, we install, repair, and maintain heating and cooling equipment. We also address indoor air quality concerns with filtration equipment, air cleaners, humidity control, UV lights, and more.
If you would like to speak with someone from our team regarding the process of scheduling a duct sealing appointment, reach out to Air Zero today.
