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The HVAC system in your Garland, TX home is a collection of heating and cooling equipment, along with ductwork, that helps keep indoor air comfortable and safe. For conditioned air to reach all the different rooms in your home, an intricate system of ductwork is installed. Ducts lead from your heating and cooling equipment to each room, with different vents and registers providing airflow. The quality of your indoor air is very important, with many homes dealing with contaminants that affect allergies, respiratory health, and overall health. This includes things like pollen, mold spores, pet dander, dust, dust mites, and volatile organic compounds. Let’s look at the ways that ductwork relates to indoor air quality, including ways you can protect the quality of your indoor air.
The Relationship Between Ductwork and Indoor Air Quality
Ductwork is an important part of your HVAC system, but over time, it can accumulate particulates like dust, dander, mold spores, and pollen. Ductwork can even be susceptible to pet infestations if some gaps and cracks allow these unwanted visitors inside. If these particulates are left in your ductwork over time, this can reduce your indoor air quality. This can also hamper the efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment, leading to more repairs and higher utility bills.
Having Your Ductwork Cleaned
Your ductwork needs cleaning once every few years. You may choose to have this process completed more often if you have pets in the home. If you or your family suffer from allergies, this process can dramatically improve indoor air quality.
Having your ductwork cleaned involves an HVAC professional first inspecting your ducts to determine the extent of buildup, in addition to looking for leaks and other problems. Then a negative pressure vacuum will be attached to different points of your ductwork to suction out debris. Some professionals use agitation to provide a very deep clean. The entire process is done in such a way that no particulates will become airborne, preventing exposure. The interior components of your HVAC system will also be cleaned during this process. Your technician will offer to use certain products that can sanitize your ductwork. This is beneficial if biological waste or pests are found in your ductwork. These products can also kill different strains of bacteria and pathogens that may be making you sick.
Ductwork Damage and Repairs
In some instances, your ductwork could be damaged. This may have occurred over time because of normal wear and tear, but there may have been issues during the installation process as well. A thorough inspection of your ductwork will determine where damage is located, allowing repairs to be made. When gaps and cracks exist in ductwork, particulates can enter your home. Eventually, these particulates will circulate into your indoor air, decreasing overall IAQ. Many homes also deal with pest infestations inside the ductwork because of this damage. Pests decrease your indoor air quality by leaving behind nesting material and even waste matter.
We can use a special tape to provide a tight seal on the surface of your ductwork to manage minor repairs. We can also paint specialized products directly onto the ductwork to control air leakage. For large areas of damage, you might need to install new ductwork to create a closed system.
How Ductwork Affects Your Heating and Cooling Processes
Your heating and cooling equipment plays an integral role in the quality of your indoor air. This system is designed to control temperature as well as humidity. Unfortunately, dirty or damaged ductwork can lead to an inefficient heating and cooling process. Your system can become overworked, run more frequently than normal, and require ongoing repairs to keep everything functioning. Particulates from your ducts lead to poor indoor air quality, but they also build up on the interior components of your system.
The flow of air through your HVAC system can reduce particulates by way of filtration. If you’re concerned that your home has poor indoor air quality, filtration upgrades can help. This is a whole-house approach that is much more effective than using a portable air filtration device.
Air Purification Devices
You’re probably familiar with the portable, stand-alone air purifiers that can be moved from one room to another. While these units are quite effective, they don’t address your home’s indoor air quality. By having whole-home filtration added to your HVAC system, you can reduce particulates passing through your ductwork and into your home. Whole-home units utilize high-quality filters, such as HEPA filters, to remove as many as 99.97% of contaminants.
The Benefits of Professional Ductwork Service
While homeowners can change filters periodically and ensure proper ventilation, an experienced professional should be your first call when it comes to ductwork inspections and service. Do-it-yourself maintenance will only take you so far. A professional can pinpoint specific issues that may be occurring, providing a recommendation for an effective repair. Professionals also have equipment that will clean your ductwork effectively, leading to healthier indoor air quality. Other benefits of professional ductwork services include:
- Better system efficiency
- Saving time and money
- Long-term cost savings
Signs You Need Ductwork Service
If you’re concerned that your home may need professional ductwork service, watch for signs of trouble. If you notice that your heating and cooling costs are continually rising, you could have ductwork damage or dirty ducts. Refer to the previous year’s bills and energy usage to make an accurate comparison. Increased allergy or asthma symptoms can also indicate that dirty ductwork is degrading your indoor air quality. You might also notice that the surfaces in your home get dusty over a shorter period, even when you’ve just cleaned them.
Damaged or dirty ducts can also cause a musty or unpleasant odor in your home. When pests gain access to ductwork, they can create bad smells. Mold can, too, and is also linked to serious health issues. Ideally, you’re catching these problems early on to minimize your risk of exposure. If mold is spotted, you may need to have it professionally remediated to control the spread of the mold and protect you and your family from exposure. You can check the surface of your registers to see if any signs of mold or excessive dust are present. A professional can use specialized cameras to see into the deep crevices of your ductwork to determine the extent of the buildup. This process also helps diagnose ductwork damage that may be negatively affecting your indoor air quality.
If you are looking for more information on ways to improve your indoor air quality via your ductwork, reach out to our team at On Time Experts. We can perform an indoor air quality assessment to determine your main contaminants, offering improvement solutions. In addition to air quality concerns, we also take care of new heating and cooling equipment installation, repair, and maintenance. We repair and replace ductwork as needed. We also work on various aspects of your plumbing system, such as your hot water tank, sump pump, and fixtures.
Reach out to On Time Experts today to schedule an appointment with our team!
