The actual start of fall is only a few weeks away, and it\u2019s already time to start making preparations for the change of seasons\u2014a bit of \u201cfall cleaning.\u201d One job you might consider for this time of year is to look after your home\u2019s air ducts.<\/p>\n
Wait\u2026 you\u2019ve never thought the air ducts needed looking after? Don\u2019t worry, many people think that. Because the ducts are mostly removed from sight, it\u2019s easy to just forget about them and assume they\u2019ll work because, well, they\u2019ve always worked. But this is far from the truth!<\/p>\n
Air ducts can suffer from wear and tear over time due to the pressure inside them. This is bigger problem if (as is unfortunately often the case) the ducts were poorly installed in the first place. Humidity can also lead to issues such as corrosion creating holes in metal ducts. Insects and vermin can also create duct damage.<\/p>\n
Even the smallest air leaks in ductwork can contribute to a drop in pressure throughout the ventilation system, which will affect both comfort and energy efficiency. In fact, the ventilation system can lose up to 30% of the air moving through it because of these duct leaks\u2014and that\u2019s a huge amount of heated and cooled air going to waste! Damaged ducts can also create a decline in indoor air quality.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve never before arranged for professional duct testing, it\u2019s definitely something to have done as soon as possible, even if you don\u2019t suspect your ductwork has any issues. The testers will seal off the ventilation system and increase its pressure with a power vacuum, then measure with manometers how fast the pressure drops. This will tell them the integrity level of the ducts and if repairs and sealing are needed to restore the ducts to peak condition.<\/p>\n