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Your HVAC system is an important part of your home because it makes your home more comfortable, safe, and welcoming. However, all HVAC systems eventually experience wear and tear, including the ductwork. For many HVAC systems, the ducts are like the arteries in your body, but instead of providing oxygen, ducts provide heated/cooled air. For this reason, you shouldn't neglect your ducts. If you've been ignoring your ducts, check out these three commonly asked questions.
1. Do All Heating/Cooling Systems Rely on Ducts?
Typically, you only need a ductwork system if you have forced-air cooling or heating with a gas, electric, or oil furnace. These systems work by heating air at the furnace and then sending it throughout the house via the ductwork and vents. Heat pumps work differently to create warm air, but they too rely on the ductwork to spread the heat.
Many heating/cooling systems do not rely on ducts. These include radiant heating, mini-split systems, and portable systems. This may allow you to save money on installation if you don't already have ducts, but these systems tend to be less effective at quickly heating and cooling your home.
2. Do Ducts Need to Be Maintained?
Naturally, your furnace and air-conditioning unit need to be regularly maintained to keep them in good condition so they don't become ineffective or inefficient. In fact, many homeowners get their furnace and air conditioner serviced each year before the hot or cold season. However, ducts are out of sight, which often means out of mind. Therefore, many people neglect their ducts, leading to major complications.
Freshly and correctly installed ducts are in great shape, making them more efficient, but as ducts age, they require maintenance too because age, wear and tear, and damage can cause punctures in the ducts, or the ducts may start to separate where they are connected.
If this caused your system to stop heating/cooling the house, you'd probably notice. However, damaged ducts still provide heat and cooling; they just become inefficient. Therefore, you may not realize what's happening until your heating/cooling bills start to skyrocket as heated/cooled air is lost before it reaches your living space. Unless the ducts are severely damaged, a good contractor should be able to simply repair them with special metal tape.
3. Can Your Ducts Get Dirty?
In conjunction with maintaining your ductwork system, you need to have it regularly cleaned too. Even if you have the best filter, some particles still get into the ducts, leading to a buildup of dirt, dust, pet dander, allergens, and much more, which poses two risks.
First, it reduces indoor air quality, which can make everyone inside the house miserable, especially if they struggle with asthma or allergies. In some cases, it may even make you sick. For example, if mold or fungi starts to grow in the ducts, these spores may reach your living space and make you sick.
A good duct cleaning is also a great opportunity to ensure there is nothing living in your ducts. Insects and small rodents may like the warm, dark home, but their droppings and fleas can allow unwanted odors and disease to spread through the home. Certain pests like rats or squirrels may even cause physical damage to the ducts by scratching or biting on them, creating holes and gaps.
Ducts aren't easy to see because they are hidden behind walls and in ceilings. However, there are many tell-tale signs you may have an underlying issue, such as strange odors or inefficient heating/cooling. If you believe your system isn't working as well as it should and you aren't sure why, contact us at C.J. Services, Inc., to see how we can help.