Regular duct cleaning is a necessity for modern homes. The ventilation system that circulates air through a house has an airtight seal along it to maintain air pressure, but this also allows dust and debris to start to build up along the walls of the ducts without any escape except back out into the rooms, where it will eventually re-enter the ventilation system through the return air vents. Over a period of two years (and sometimes less than that), the accumulation of debris and other contaminants can become quite heavy inside ducts.
However, breaks in this airtight seal can make the situation far worse; along with duct cleaning, you may occasionally need professional duct sealing for your home. Duct cleaners will usually catch these issues and help you schedule the necessary work. For duct cleaning and duct sealing service in Mission Viejo, CA, you can count on Saddleback Plumbing to take excellent care of you.
Issues That Duct Sealing Will Address
- Additional pollutants and contaminants: Your ductwork already gathers dust and dirt during normal operation. Breaks and leaks along the air channels will make this accumulation worse, since these openings will probably occur in closed-off sections of your home, such as crawlspaces and between walls, that have large amounts of dust, dirt, and construction debris in them. The number of pollutants that enters you ductwork will steeply increase until you have the gaps sealed.
- Mold, mildew, and other bacterial growth: Mold and bacteria developing inside your ductwork is one of the worst problems your HVAC system can encounter. It will severely lower your indoor air quality and cause major health issues. These growths will also increase damage to the ducts and weaken the material. Sealing gaps in the ducts will prevent moist air from entering and raising the humidity level that encourages these biological growths.
- High utility bills: Even a small leak in a duct that breaks the airtight seal can cause a 33% drop in airflow form an AC or forced-air heater. This will put strain on the system to compensate for the loss of airflow, and it will start to drain money to obtain its regular levels of cooling or heating (and often fail). Keeping your ducts intact and all leaks sealed will prevent you from paying heavier costs to keep a home comfortable.
- HVAC repairs: An over-strained AC or heater, or one dealing with excess contamination that can enter into its cabinet, is at higher risk for repairs. You can avoid these unnecessary repairs with proper sealing to keep the ducts airtight.
Saddleback Plumbing has helped homes in Mission Viejo, CA with duct sealing and duct cleaning since 1981. Make us your first call when you notice low airflow or odd musty smells coming from your vents, or when heating and cooling bills start to rise for no obvious reason. We’ll track the problem and fix it, whether with duct sealing or HVAC system repair.