Did you know that regular inspection and maintenance of your air conditioning ducts will ensure that your AC is correctly and efficiently sending that cool air exactly where it is needed?
All ductwork must have an air tight seal to function properly. Without an air tight seal in supply or return ductwork, condensation of humid air in building cavities and on neighboring surfaces such as drywall, wooden support beams and other vulnerable surfaces can occur. Humid air can lead to mold on these surfaces, which can significantly impact the health of the air in your home, which can impact your health! Mold will grow on any duct surface that remains wet.
Air leakage can be especially problematic for ducts that are located outside the conditioned spaces. Nobody wants to pay to cool the outside! The primary goal for maintaining your ductwork is to ensure that all air ducts are keeping the cool air within the conditioned space (your home) and to ensure that all the joints and seams of all ducts, including return ducts, are sealed using an appropriate material. Duct leakage, even small ones, from the return lines will cause a significant drop in energy efficiency as it is taking in the air from the attic or crawl space, which is an unconditioned area, and unfortunately, in many cases it vacuums up the nearby attic insulation into the system, causing the air handler coil to become clogged, at times so severely, that the evaporator coil starts to ice.