The Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning and Repair for Energy Efficiency

Dirty air duct

Your home’s heating and cooling system relies on ductwork to spread hot or cold air and regulate temperatures. However, that ductwork can become dirty and fall into disrepair as the years go by. Professional air duct cleaning and repair can make your ductwork feel new again.

Residential Air Ducts Are Often in Disrepair

Unfortunately, ductwork is often among the most neglected systems in your home. Chances are that your home has damaged ductwork that is leaking air right now, and that’s on top of the bad joints and seals that contribute to gradual losses.

Ductwork is often hurriedly installed during new construction. With tight deadlines, ensuring quality isn’t at the top of the contractor’s checklist. Instead, they install it so it’s “good enough” and don’t worry about the impact years down the line.

If you don’t notice any serious issues with your heating or cooling, you could still have ductwork problems. Dust, dander, and dirt build up over time, even if your ductwork operates properly. This can lead to worse air quality and poor performance from your HVAC system.

Leaks pose an even more serious problem. Hot or cold air escapes if your ductwork becomes partially disconnected at joins or has tears anywhere in the system. Instead of heating or cooling your home, that energy is completely wasted. Your HVAC system has to use more energy to make up the difference.

If you don’t remember the last time you had any work done on your ducts, then chances are an inspection is in order. You can have a cleaning and inspection done at the same time to remove dirt and identify any leaks that need attention. Air duct cleaning and repairs are beneficial in almost any home that hasn’t had them recently.

Cleaning Air Ducts Helps Your HVAC System

One of the most significant benefits of air duct cleaning is the impact it has on your heating and cooling. Even in mild climates like San Diego, these two areas still add up to form the bulk of your utility bills. The improvement offered by duct cleaning and repair can help you save every month, and that really adds up over time.

Dust and other detritus in your vents impede airflow. Over the years, enough dirt can build up to have a noticeable impact on the airflow of your system. This means that your HVAC appliances work harder to achieve the same result, consuming more energy. Whether in the form of electricity or gas, that energy costs you money.

The additional energy use also makes your home less environmentally friendly. With all the smart devices and new technologies people put into building greener homes today, they may overlook tried and true basics such as routine air duct cleaning.

Removing Dust Keeps Your Air Filter Cleaner

The direct energy lost to leaks isn’t the only way dirty and damaged air ducts affect your HVAC system. High dust levels mean that there is also plenty of dirt circulating through the system. Over time, this builds up in air filters.

You should already be replacing your air filters on a schedule, but excess dust levels mean even more frequent replacement. Your air filter quickly becomes clogged with dirt that impedes airflow. That makes your HVAC system work harder, wasting energy and also wearing out important parts.

Not only will you face higher energy bills every month, but you’ll also have additional repair and replacement costs for your HVAC system. You need a complete replacement sooner than expected, which is never a welcome expense.

Professional air duct cleaning helps your system run as intended. You enjoy the full benefits of energy efficiency and comfortable temperatures while also protecting your HVAC equipment and saving on repairs.

Even Functional Ductwork Benefits From Sealing

While many homes have seriously damaged ductwork, not all do. Your ductwork could be in excellent condition but could still benefit from sealing. Even good ductwork can have losses at joints and connections, and those losses add up.

Sealing prevents any air from escaping from these problem areas. Instead, all of the hot or cold air from your HVAC system is successfully distributed throughout your home. This eases the burden on your HVAC system — and because it is using less energy, your heating bills are reduced.

When you schedule your air duct cleaning, the professionals will conduct a quick inspection to determine whether your ductwork requires sealing. If it is, they will provide a reliable quote. This simple process can make your home surprisingly more energy efficient and save you a lot in the long run.

Air Duct Cleaning Also Helps You Breathe Easier

An energy-efficient home can help you save on utility bills and improve your environmental impact. However, it’s not the only benefit you get from air duct cleaning and repair. Having clean and properly functioning ductwork also makes your home a safer and healthier place to live.

The dust that accumulates in your ductwork is made up of all kinds of contaminants. Dander, allergens, mold spores, bacteria, and more are all included. These contaminants continue to cycle through your home, causing respiratory symptoms and reducing air quality.

Routine cleaning removes accumulated dust and dirt and has a noticeable impact on your indoor air quality. Without a large reservoir in your ductwork, concentrations of these contaminants drop down and are kept low by your HVAC air filter.

Dealing with damaged ductwork is also essential. Holes and rips allow contaminants to enter your ductwork or even pests like rodents to move through them. This greatly increases the health risks in your home, so sealing up your ductwork is definitely the right move.

Air Duct Cleaning and Sealing in San Diego

If you can’t remember the last time you scheduled air duct cleaning, it’s probably well overdue. Trust the professionals at Attic Projects to help you enjoy an efficient and healthy home. Reach out for duct cleaning in San Diego today.

Contact Your Local Attic Projects: