Most of us take our ducts and ventilation systems for granted.
- Poorly designed, or dirty ducts that are not maintained can cost you a lot of money and affect your indoor comfort.
If your heating and cooling system unit smells bad, you might be surprised to know that the smell isn’t coming from the unit itself. It’s coming from the ductwork. Moisture can build up in your ducts and this is actually pretty common, but moisture can become a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and other scary microorganisms. Those strange or bad smells are a result of moisture and mold growth. Not only is the stench an uncomfortable thing to experience, but you can also experience health and respiratory problems such as asthma. Ducts made of drywall, sheetrock, or carbon based materials are vulnerable to bad odors, but metal ducts are usually safe from this problem. Besides bad odors, poor air quality is also a common duct problem. When a duct is filled with moisture, mold, and other allergens, your indoor air is affected. But, also outdoor pollutants can get into your system and indoor air such as smog, dust, pollen, cleaning fluid, pet dander, and pesticides can ruin your air quality. If your ducts are leaking, a portion of the conditioned air will not make it to the portion of your house where you need it. On average, a home loses more than 20% of the air that circulates through its ducts. The solution to this problem is to check your ducts for leakages and if you have leaks, get them sealed. Once you get the ducts fixed for leaks, you will lose less air. As a result, your HVAC unit will provide a comfortable temperature with less effort and reduce the size of your monthly energy bills. Getting your leaks fixed can also protect you from outside pollutants entering your home through your ducts and keep your indoor air clean.