Moisture Could Be Damaging Your Duct Work

Spring is here and so is the rain and moisture that it brings. As more rain begins to fall this season, the moisture and humidity levels inside your home will begin to rise. Most homeowners don’t stop to think about how this may be affecting their ventilation systems.

Many homes have their duct work sealed with lesser quality materials like duct tape. Moisture, along with the changes in temperature, can cause the duct tape to lose its adhesiveness over time. When this happens, the duct tape begins to come free causing air leaks in your duct work. As the air leaks out, more moisture comes in contact with the duct tape causing the leak to grow. Having leaks like this in your ventilation system invites more problems that can eventually affect your energy bill, the structural safety of your home, and the quality of the air you breathe.

The average home can be losing up to 40% of its conditioned air as it passes through its ducts because of improper installation and sealing. Leaking duct work means your HVAC system is having to work overtime to properly heat or cool your home. Eventually this will cause faster wear and tear on your system leading to premature failure or costly repairs.

The moisture being pulled into your duct work can be forced into your home’s environment creating even more problems. Having moisture in our home is important to our health but having too much of it can have negative effects. High humidity can help the microorganisms that cause allergies and asthma to thrive. Bugs, dust mites, and mold also love humid conditions. Keeping the relative humidity levels in your home below 60% have proven to reduce these issues. Excess moisture can also damage your electronics. It can corrode contacts and lower insulation resistance causing short circuits from condensation buildup.

If the sealing on the duct work in your attic begins to fail, it can draw in contaminants like dust and insulation. Once these pollutants are in your ventilation system, they are pushed into your living spaces where you are constantly breathing them in. This can eventually cause serious health issues.

The HVAC experts of Bradley Mechanical can make sure the duct work in your home is properly sealed. We use the highest quality products like mastic, a strong resin-based bonding agent, to seal the joints, connections, and taps of your duct work. Our professional work will certainly maintain its seal and help prevent any future leaks. Our technicians will also test the duct work to make sure all leaks have been sealed and your system is working efficiently once again.

Have you noticed an increase in your heating and cooling bill? Are you having trouble regulating the humidity levels in your home? It could be from a leaky or improperly installed ventilation system. Give Bradley Mechanical a call today at (804) 748-6728 and schedule an appointment. We are Central Virginia’s HVAC and ventilation authority and have been serving homes for over 50 years.