Ductwork is one of those things that not many homeowners pay too much attention to. We can’t say we blame you—it’s out of sight and out of mind, right? That is, unless something goes drastically wrong with them.
“What could go drastically wrong?” you ask.
Your ductwork can suffer from pinhole leaks due to extreme heat in the attic where they’re installed, poor installation to begin with, or even from rodents and other pests. You could also have loose joints in your air ducts or even a buildup of dust, dirt, and other contaminants that could harm not only your indoor air quality but also the efficiency and efficacy of your HVAC system.
But of course, you probably don’t want to wait until there is a problem with your air ducts to manage that problem, right? Fortunately, most problems can be prevented with professional duct testing.
About Duct Testing
Did you know that, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, damaged ductwork can allow you to lose up to 30% of your conditioned air? This is energy that you are paying for whether it makes its way into your living space or not. Thankfully though, you can schedule duct testing to find out if this is a problem for you, and from there either scheduling duct sealing, repair, or replacement.
When ductwork is leaking air due to damage or poor installation, it has an impact on multiple areas of your home and your life in general. There will likely be hot and cold spots around your house, and your HVAC system will have to run longer to try to reach the desired temperature on your thermostat. This means your HVAC systems are running inefficiently and costing you more as a result. You’ll see your utility bills raise and you might even need to replace your HVAC units far sooner than you thought you’d have to.
Duct testing allows our professionals to do a thorough examination of your ductwork. This testing can include high-tech recording and viewing equipment, air pressure tests known as blower door testing, and a visual inspection of your ductwork to check for any irregularities. From there, we may recommend:
- Duct Sealing: Professional duct sealing is about much more than simply slapping some duct tape on your ventilation system and calling it a day. In fact, this isn’t an effective method of duct sealing or repair at all. Duct tape is unfortunately improperly named. It becomes too brittle with the fluctuation of the temperature in your ductwork, and therefore starts to crack and separate. Professional mastic sealant adheres to the ducts as they should, and lasts throughout the lifespan of your HVAC systems, at the very least.
- Duct Repair: Duct repair is a more appropriate solution when there are actual tears in your ductwork. Sometimes professional sealant isn’t quite enough and your ventilation system needs a little more help.
- Duct Replacement: Duct replacement is a good option if your ducts were not properly sized or installed to begin with. It’s also a good option if your ductwork is old and has been professionally sealed and repaired many times over the years. Let us help you get your HVAC system back to its ideal performance with professional duct replacement!
- Duct Cleaning: We alluded to it above and we’ll say it again here—your ductwork is hard to access. Professional duct cleaning lets us clear the pounds of dust and other debris that can build up over just a few years.
Contact Climate Masters for quality duct testing in St. Augustine, FL.
