Categories: Aeroseal Duct Sealing, Air Duct Cleaning, Duct System Inspection
We heat and cool our home to keep our family comfortable, with some homes, maintaining a consistent temperature within each room of the home can prove to be difficult. Some home airflow problems are easy to remedy, others require a more comprehensive approach. Solving home airflow problems can provide many benefits for indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and home comfort. Below are seven common problems and solutions to improving your homes airflow.
Leaky Air Ducts
Repairing leaky air ducts is the single best thing a homeowner can do to solve airflow problems within a home. When constructed, air ducts are sleeved and screwed into one another to deliver and draw air throughout the home. In most ventilation systems, the joined sections are not air tight allowing for conditioned air to escape or be drawn from unintended areas. Seal the joints of your air ducts with an approved mastic or sealant and you will realize a noticeable and immediate improvement to your homes airflow problems.
Distance from the Furnace and Air Conditioner
As the furnace or air conditioning system is in operation, it blows and draws air through a series of air ducts to condition each space of the home. While there is a strong force of air pressure as the air is blown from the furnace or air conditioner, the strength of the airflow dissipates as it reaches the outer extremities of the ventilation system. More often than not this airflow problem relates to poor design in the architecture of the home or poor installation practices of the HVAC system. In some occasions, modifications can be made to the ventilation system to provide a greater volume of air with less restriction. In most cases the most efficient and cost effective solution is to install zones within the ventilation system which are dampers that regulate air flow.
Lack of Return Air
Proper airflow within a home is always related to the circulation of air flow. Your home relies on supply air vents which blow conditioned air into the home, and return air vents which draw the air back to the furnace or air conditioner. A lack of return air vents decreases the circulation of airflow within a home, adding additional return vents in areas with limited airflow will improve a homes air circulation.
Dirty Fan Blower
Within the furnace or air conditioner cabinet there is a fan-blower which distributes the air. Overtime dust and debris builds on the fan blower blades reducing its ability to sheer and distribute the air. By routinely cleaning the furnace on an annual basis you can improve your homes airflow.
Clogged Air Conditioner Coil
If you have air conditioning, located above your furnace cabinet is an evaporative coil which is made up of tiny fins that absorb heat and cool the air. Overtime dust and debris builds up within the coil fins reducing the amount of airflow that the furnace can distribute. By routinely cleaning the evaporative coils on an annual basis you can improve your homes airflow.
Improperly Sized Heating and Cooling Equipment
Prior to installation, a HVAC load calculation is performed to determine the amount of heating and cooling BTU’s are required to effectively condition the temperature of the home. If the HVAC system is under-sized or over-sized it will create home airflow problems. An experienced HVAC technician can provide an HVAC load calculation to make sure that the HVAC is sized properly for the home.
Disconnected & Crushed Air Ducts
If there is no airflow or very limited airflow it may be related to a disconnected or crushed air duct. Disconnected or crushed air ducts occur from faulty installation. Remove the air vent register and inspect the ventilation line with a flashlight and mirror. If the ventilation line is disconnected and is within an area that can be reached, refasten the ducting together with sheetmetal screws and seal the joint. If the ducting is crushed, remove the crushed ducting piece and replace it. There are occasions where the duct disconnection cannot be seen, in this scenario you will need the ventilation line to be scoped with a fiber-optic camera to determine the location of the disconnection and the best options to gain access for its repair.
Schedule Inspection
By MJ Palazzolo
Safety King is Michigan’s most experienced air duct cleaners. We provide commercial, residential, and industrial air duct systems. My father started Safety King in 1969. We run a fleet of monster power vacuum trucks which are operated by highly skilled NADCA certified technicians. We are focused on air duct cleaning, dryer duct cleaning, and cleaning of HVAC components like fans and coils. We also offer Aeroseal duct leakage diagnostics and sealing.
Poor design and lack of maintenance are the cause of many of the IAQ issues we see. Some systems have mold issues but this is not as big an issue in Michigan as it is in other regions of the US. We also encounter some asbestos on ducts systems. In some cases this can present an IAQ issue. By far the biggest IAQ issue we find is excessive dust.
Education goes a long way on all these issues. We can help with some design issues by using the Aeroseal system to measure and seal duct leakage. As a state licensed pesticide applicator we have the ability to treat mold using EPA registered anti-microbial treatments. When we encounter asbestos we can sometimes work around it. It depends on the location and condition of the suspect material to determine if it presents a hazard. When we have issues beyond our area of expertise we refer one of the many specialists with whom we network.
Most homeowners simply have no idea of how much dust, dirt, and debris the duct system harbors. Since the air ducts are out of sight they are often out of mind. In addition to the “normal” contaminants we often find construction debris, dead bugs, and drywall dust. And about 50% of household dust is from dead skins cells which we constantly are shedding. That means the when you move into a new home you are actually breathing the skins cells from the last people that lived there. We recommend air duct cleaning every 3-5 years as the ducts usually warrant a cleaning by that time.
Some people have allergies and asthma that can be greatly aggravated by dirty air ducts. Dirty systems are also less efficient so it ends up costing more to run them. But the one thing that most people can relate to is having too much dust.
Get the ducts cleaned as part of your regular maintenance. Get a good air filter and change it on schedule. Both these things will help reduce household dust and keep the system running efficiently. And everyone should have their equipment checked by a reputable licensed contractor every year or two.
The typical single family home’s air ducts take between two and four hours to clean.
No. The powerful vacuum trucks we use provide the most suction in the industry. The vents are covered with a specialized film to ensure that the contaminants remain in the ducts until they are removed. All the dirt and debris is sucked into the hose and out into our trucks. Our crews wear shoe covers and we also lay protective coverings underneath our equipment.
You can get lots of information including monthly specials by visiting our website at www.safetyking.com or ring us toll free at 1-800-AIR-DUCT.
– See more at: MichiganHomes.com
Marcus Palazzolo, our Certified Air System Cleaning Specialist found a furnace leak at a recent air duct cleaning job this week.
Marcus explains, “The difference between preventative maintenance and corrective maintenance can be great. Here is a stunning example. During one of our cleaning processes, our technicians discovered a leaking condensation pump on a furnace. The issue had actually gotten so bad that the leak had rusted out the furnace in areas and shorted out some wiring. This eventually led to improper operation of the unit!”
Marcus goes on to say, “On the flip side, if this system had regular maintenance performed, the issue would have been resolved fast and efficiently, saving time, money and a headache for the homeowner! Be aware, this is an example that is readily visible for the homeowner. Ductwork contamination is “out-of-sight / out-of-mind” so unless the ductwork is open and inspected, issues could exist for a prolonged period without any corrective measures. Inspection of ductwork is something Safety King does with every job.”
Meet Marcus Palazzolo
Anything and everything you need for your home and garden can be found under one roof at the Novi Home and Garden Show. Walk through over 25,000 square feet of landscaped gardens with patios, outdoor kitchens, water highlights, and plants. Come visit Chris Nevens at the Safety King Exibit this weekend!
Adult admission (ages 13 and up) is $9, senior admission is $8, and children 12 and under get in free! With show ticket purchase, you will receive a 1-year subscription to Better Homes & Gardens.
Click Here to Learn More!