A ductwork inspection could reveal major sources of wasted energy while also revealing the cause of poor indoor air quality. Residential HVAC ducts are notoriously leaky, typically losing 20 percent or more of the conditioned air they’re supposed to disperse throughout your home. This expensive heating and cooling leaks into the attic, the interior of wall spaces and/or the crawl space under the home. In addition, ducts can become repositories for dust, dirt – and sometimes toxic mold – that continuously re-circulates in your breathing air.

Unfortunately, the greater portion of your home ducts isn’t accessible for DIY ductwork inspection. Professional attention is needed to evaluate leakage and assess the possible need for duct cleaning. Here’s what you can do by yourself and what you can expect from the pros:

• Pay attention to the room registers when the system’s running. Look for dust, cobwebs or other debris that might be visible in the stream of air emitted by the register.
• Remove a vent grille in each room. Hold a point-and-shoot digital camera as far as you can into the duct while also illuminating the interior with a flashlight. Take a photo and examine for signs of dust buildup, mold growth or duct deterioration that may indicate leakage.

A professional duct inspection encompasses the entire span of ductwork. A qualified HVAC technician will pressure test the system to determine the extent of leakage. Junctures of duct segments, elbows and areas where corrosion may cause widespread pinhole leaks are the usual suspects. Duct sealing may involve applying mastic to faulty joints, then covering with metal foil tape. Pinholes can be sealed with an aerosol sealant sprayed into the interior of the ducts.

The technician will utilize access ports in the ductwork and/or disconnect segments to visually check for dust accumulation and mold. After the ducts are sealed, air balance in each room will be checked and adjusted. If professional duct cleaning is deemed necessary, your HVAC contractor can discuss options available to restore your interior air quality.

For more information on a ductwork inspection in your Allen, Frisco or McKinney area home, please contact us at Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating.