Ductwork FAQs
Duct Cleaning FAQs
Q: How often should I have my ducts cleaned?
A: Neither the EPA nor the CDC offer guidelines for how often you should have your ducts cleaned, but this doesn’t mean you should never do it. Find a duct cleaning company you trust and let them help you decide how often you need your ducts, vents and coils cleaned. This will be based on thing like the size of your household, the number of pets you have, the environment around your house and your individual health issues. Isn’t it generally every 5-8 yrs or so??
Q: What are the benefits of duct cleaning?
A: Duct cleaning will remove things like mold, fungi, bacteria and dust particles from your ventilation system, reducing the chance that these things will be blown into the air and make you sick. As such, periodic duct cleaning should be a component of your overall indoor air quality improvement plan.
Duct cleaning will also remove debris from sensitive mechanical components, making your systems run more efficiently. Best of all, clean, efficient systems are less likely to break down, have a longer lifespan and are generally healthier than dirty ones.
Duct Sealing FAQs
Q: Is duct sealing really that important?
A: Yes! Air leaking out of your ducts could increase your cooling costs by as much as 30 percent. Think about it – your thermostat relies on heated or cooled air to get your home to the proper temperature. If all of that air isn’t getting into the rooms in your home, it’s going to force the air conditioner or heating system to cycle on and off more frequently and cost you more money!
Q: How much air is wasted through my ducts?
A: In a typical house, 20 percent of heated or cooled air that moves through your duct system is wasted due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts.
Q: How do I know if I need my ducts sealed?
A: There are many signs that you need your ducts sealed. Instead of continuing to waste energy to keep your home comfortable, look out for:
- Energy bills that are higher than usual
- Certain rooms are harder to heat or cool
- Some rooms always feel stuffy or uncomfortable
- Ducts located in the attic, crawlspace, or garage
- Ducts that are tangled or kinked
Q: What does the duct sealing process entail?
A: Many homeowners hire a professional HVAC company to seal their ducts rather than tackle the project in a DIY manner. This ensures that licensed duct technicians inspect, seal, and test their duct systems with the goal of improving energy efficiency.
When a duct sealing technician is in your home, they will:
- Inspect your duct system, including crawlspaces and attic
- Calculate the system’s efficiency and supply vs. return air
- Repair damaged or disconnected ducts
- Straighten flexible ducts that are tangled or crushed
- Seal all leaks using mastic, metal tape, or an aerosol-based sealant
- Seal all registers and grills
- Install a new air filter
- Conduct a safety test after all ducts are sealed
- Evaluate air flow and energy efficiency after all ducts are sealed
Q: Where are the biggest air leaks in my home?
Air leaks come from unsealed duct systems. Attics and basements are major rooms that waste a lot of the heated and cooled air that you are paying for.
In attics, the biggest air leaks are found:
- Where the walls meet the attic floor
- Above celling drops and overhangs
- Behind attic walls
There are often smaller leak zones found near electrical wires, attic hatches and doors, and around chimneys.
In basements, the biggest air leaks are found where the cement or foundation meets the wood frame of your home. In unfurnished basements, these can be easily sealed. Check out the duct system sealing throughout your basement too.
You can spot check for air leaks by looking for any discolored insulation—that indicates that air leaked through the ductwork is moving through the insulation material.
