When it comes to enhancing the amount of comfort that your HVAC system produces for your home, there are many usable tactics. One of the lesser-known tactics is scheduling professional duct sealing. Let’s discuss what duct sealing is and how it will increase the comfort of your home this winter.
Understanding Your Ductwork
Ductwork connects the different rooms in your home with your heating and cooling equipment. When functioning optimally during the winter months, most of the heat from your heating system will travel through your ducting and end up in your living spaces.
Expansion and Contraction
Most ductwork is constructed of aluminum or steel. This metal is susceptible to expansion and contraction with changes in the temperature. When the metal gets cold, it can contract. When it gets warm, it can expand. As this expansion and contraction happens repeatedly, it can cause joints in your ducting to become damaged. This damage can allow conditioned air to leak out of your ducts before it reaches its intended destination. With less heat making it to the rooms in your home, your heating system will have to run more often to make up for the temperature loss.
Additionally, leaks can cause the pressure inside the ducting to pull particulate matter into this space. This excessive debris buildup can reduce the quality of air inside your home and restrict adequate airflow while your heating equipment is running. This can make it much harder for your heating system to deliver adequate levels of warm air to all the rooms of your home.
What Is Duct Sealing?
A professional HVAC technician from our team can perform duct sealing after performing an inspection of your ductwork system. This can be done using a specialized camera. Leaks that are in easily accessible areas, like your basement or crawlspace, will be manually resealed with appropriate materials. However, areas that are inaccessible will have a specialized sealant applied. This sealant comes in the form of an aerosol that gets blown into the air ducts. The sealant will seal up leaky areas.
Many HVAC companies will offer a package deal on both a duct cleaning and sealing service. This is because your ducting will need to undergo thorough cleaning for the sealing process to be successful. Duct cleaning will remove excess dust and other debris accumulation inside your ducting.
Duct Sealing Frequency
The frequency of duct sealing will depend on a few factors. On average, most HVAC professionals recommend homes get duct sealing service every 5 to 10 years. If you have aging ductwork, you may want to schedule more frequent sealing services, as your ducting will be more likely to develop leaks.
The Many Benefits of Duct Sealing Service
When you invest in duct sealing service for your home, it can do wonders for enhancing your comfort. This holds especially true during the winter months, as more of the hot air that your heating system creates will make its way to the various rooms in your home. With sealing service, you can be assured that each room will receive even heating so that your entire indoor environment is at the same comfortable temperature.
Another benefit of investing in duct sealing service is better indoor air quality. When you have leaks in your ducting, it can pull in debris from inside your wall and floor cavities. This can drastically reduce the quality of air inside your home. When you get duct sealing service alongside duct cleaning service, you and your family can enjoy breathing in healthier air.
Apart from enhanced comfort, duct sealing can also work to make your HVAC system operate more efficiently. This can lead to lower heating bills throughout the long winter season. With less debris inside your ducting, you can enjoy healthier air and less wear and tear on your HVAC system. This can lead to a much longer equipment lifespan.
Another lesser-known benefit of duct sealing service is that it can prevent back-drafting of toxic fumes in your home. It isn’t uncommon for appliances that use gas in your home, like your washer, furnace, and dryer, to leak out toxic exhaust fumes from time to time. Normally, this isn’t a big problem because your ducting can help to disperse the fumes.
However, if you have leaky ductwork, its internal pressure can create a backdraft effect where these toxic fumes get pulled back into your wall and floor cavities. With more toxic fumes remaining in your home, you can have a more dangerous home environment. Duct sealing service helps to minimize the accumulation of toxic fumes in your home.
Unfortunately, when your ducting has gaps in it, unwanted pests can easily make their way inside. It won’t take long before they have a nest built inside. This is most common during the winter months when they’re looking for a warm and safe place to live. When you get your air ducts professionally sealed, you can have peace of mind that there’s no entryway for pests to get into and live in your ducting.
Top Signs That You Need Duct Sealing Service
One of the more obvious signs that your household may benefit from duct sealing service is that you’re experiencing higher than normal heating bills. This is the result of your heating system overworking to get your home up to your desired temperature setting. If you’ve had annual system maintenance performed and have recently changed your air filter, then it could be your leaky ductwork is to blame for your rising utility bills.
Another key indicator that you could benefit from duct sealing service is that you’re experiencing uneven heating. The rooms that are furthest away from your heating system in your series of ducting are going to feel much colder than areas that are closer. This is the result of too much hot air escaping before it can reach those furthest rooms.
You may be able to physically view some areas of your ducting. If you notice that their connections are pulling apart or that there are other leaks present, it’s a key indicator that you need duct sealing service. If you experience a pest infestation in your ducting, it usually means that there are gaps where the pests can freely get inside it. Prompt sealing and cleaning services are necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of your family and ducting.
You may notice an increase in dust and other debris on surfaces in your home. If you’ve checked to ensure that your HVAC filter is in good condition, your ductwork may have leaks that are pulling in debris. A few other signs that you need duct sealing service include consistent poor indoor air quality, lingering foul odors, and the conclusion of a household renovation project.
Reliable Duct Sealing Service
Cozy Home Services offers reliable duct sealing service for the Vacaville, CA, community. We can also help with all your cooling, heating, and plumbing needs, including new installation, emergency repairs, and routine maintenance. Give Cozy Home Services a call today to schedule your next service consultation in Vacaville with one of our helpful HVAC technicians.