The ducts that deliver conditioned air to the various rooms of your home play a big role in the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Deficiencies such as improper sizing, crushed or disconnected sections, leaks or lack of insulation can cost you up to one-third of your system’s heating and cooling output. Having an HVAC contractor take care of duct maintenance can put a stop to this costly energy waste and bring you other benefits too.
Benefits of Duct Maintenance
- Enhanced comfort – When the ducts are in good condition, you’ll find it easier to maintain your desired comfort level and enjoy a more consistent temperature throughout the living space.
- Healthier air quality – Sealing leaky ducts can keep your air supply free of contaminants introduced from unconditioned areas and lethal carbon monoxide (CO) gas from a back-drafting furnace or gas water heater.
Steps Involved in Professional Duct Maintenance
When you hire an experienced professional to perform duct maintenance in your Lorain home, you can rest easy knowing the materials used and the steps taken will address any safety concerns and improve your HVAC system’s year-round energy efficiency. Here’s a brief overview of the steps a pro will take:
- Inspect all the ductwork, including ducts situated in difficult to reach areas like the basement, crawl space, garage and attic.
- Check the air balance of the system’s return and supply ducts to identify any sizing problems.
- Identify and correct deficiencies such as disconnected or damaged sections.
- Seal seams and joints by applying fiberglass mesh, followed by mastic sealant.
- Seal gaps between the ducting and registers or grilles to prevent air leakage.
- Insulate ducts running through unconditioned areas with an R-6 or higher wrap.
- Test for adequate system airflow when duct sealing is complete.
- Perform a combustion safety test to ensure hazardous fumes from the water heater or furnace aren’t contaminating the air supply.
- Replace the air filter so that potentially-harmful particles are trapped before they enter the HVAC system.
To schedule professional duct maintenance and improve the energy efficiency of your Lorain home, contact the HVAC experts at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about duct maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area