Your air ducts can look and feel like a maze behind your walls. And while it’s nice to have your ductwork out of sight, avoid keeping it out of mind. Maintaining your air ducts is key to a comfortable, healthy, and energy-efficient home in York, PA.
With many people going without it, try not to take your home’s heating and cooling for granted — Haller’s air conditioning and heating services will help you maintain your HVAC system and understand why it’s important.
Ductwork 101 For Your Home in PA
You can think of your air ducts like the roads and highways we travel on here in Pennsylvania: heated and cooled air use air ducts to reach their destinations, aka the rooms in your home.
Your HVAC system pulls in air from your home’s intake vents, where it is then heated or cooled. That temperature-altered air then travels through your air ducts to be dispersed throughout the rest of your home.
Does air duct type matter?
While all air duct systems serve a similar purpose, some may operate better in your home in York than in others. There are several different types of air ducts, including:
- Sheet metal – rigid, durable ductwork made of galvanized steel or aluminum
- Fiberglass – sheet metal ducts with an added fiberglass lining that limits heat loss and reduces noise
- Fiberboard – made of fiberglass strands with foil added to the exterior for insulation and moisture protection
- Flexible ducts – tube shaped ducts made of steel spring coil and covered in thick, durable plastic making them easier to fit in tight knit spaces
Having the proper ductwork is crucial when it comes to saving energy and keeping your home comfortable. The choice ultimately depends on the design of your home, your needs for noise reduction or heat retention, and your budget––all factors that Haller’s HVAC services in York, PA, can help you determine.
Even with the right ductwork for your home, several issues can still arise.
What Can Go Wrong With Air Ducts?
Recognizing and caring for any air duct issues will improve the overall health of your HVAC system here in Central and Eastern PA––something we can all appreciate considering the hot summers and freezing winters we undergo.
Symptoms to watch out for
Several signs can indicate an issue with your ductwork system. Some common ones to look out for are:
- Hot and cold spots – spots around your house may trace back to leaky ducts that are allowing air to escape your ductwork
- Unpleasant odors – bad smells coming from your HVAC system can stem from mold growth, rodents, or other vermin deposits in your ducts
- Poor airflow – leaking or clogged ducts can bear stuffy air, uncomfortable temperatures, or weak airflow from your vents
- Strange sounds – cracks, leaks, or air pressure changes in your ductwork can cause your HVAC system to make a whistling or popping noise
- Clogged filters – ducts collect debris, pollutants, and other particles, resulting in strained airflow and increased energy costs
Fortunately, you can spot and resolve many of these issues before they become a much larger problem. Let’s dive into how you can avoid these problems in the first place.
How to Prevent Air Duct Problems in PA
To prevent serious issues with your air ducts, getting into a maintenance routine is essential.
Keeping things clean
Heating and cooling maintenance should include having your air ducts cleaned professionally, especially in the following circumstances:
- Visible mold growth – mold is often black, making it spottable upon inspection, or it gives off a deep, unpleasant odor
- Rodents, vermin or insects – these creatures are smelly, loud, and often big enough to spot in your ducts with a simple inspection
- Clogged air ducts – identifiable by a clogged filter or weak airflow, clogged ducts allow all that dust and debris that should be filtered out to be recirculated back into your home
- Recurring allergy-related illnesses – if you find your family dealing with allergies more often than your neighbors, it could be related to poor air quality from your air ducts
- Recently completed home renovations – to ensure your family isn’t inhaling construction debris, vacuum your air ducts and replace your filter
If you’re dealing with one of these circumstances, one of Haller’s heating and air conditioning technicians can inspect your ducts for you. In the meantime, there are some simple things that you can do to keep your air ducts clean:
- Change the filters in your HVAC system according to manufacturer recommendations
- Keep your registers and grilles maintained by removing vent covers and cleaning them
- Remove as much dust as possible
- Avoid leaving behind any treats for mice
Unless you address the underlying causes of these air duct conditions right away, they’ll likely harm your HVAC system. Find out how to tell it’s time for an inspection and cleaning.
Holler for Haller’s HVAC maintenance and repair services in PA
At Haller, our team of HVAC contractors can perform a cleaning service of your air ducts. In addition, we offer HVAC maintenance and repair, including proper design and sizing of your unit, as well as yearly inspections to make sure there are no leaks in the system.
