Winters here in North Central Florida are mostly pleasant, but we do have stretches of days when the temperature drops to the point where heating systems have to come on. Most people have heaters that use ductwork to move heat to the various rooms, such as furnaces (electric or gas) and heat pumps. Unfortunately, no matter how well your home’s heater works, you’ll run into trouble if the ductwork is leaky.
Touchstone Heating & Air Inc Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Duct Sealing’
How Leaky Air Ducts Can Be Making Winter Worse
Monday, December 31st, 2018Schedule Duct Sealing This Fall, Just to be Safe
Monday, September 26th, 2016It may be boiling outside now, but it’s going to start cooling off in the next couple months. It’s important that you make sure your heating system is in good condition, in preparation for the coming heating season. Maintenance is part of that, but it’s not the whole story. Duct sealing is an important part of keeping your heating system in the best possible operating condition. Let’s take a look at how duct sealing works, and how it can benefit you this year.
Get Ready for Summer with Duct Sealing!
Monday, April 11th, 2016Summer is almost here, and you’re probably already busy getting your home ready for the coming heat. You have very likely already scheduled air conditioning maintenance to make sure that your system is ready to cope with the added strain. However, that’s not the only thing you can do to make sure that your air conditioner is ready for summer. Read on to find out how duct sealing can help make your air conditioner more efficient.
Why You Should Get Your Ducts Sealed this Winter
Monday, February 22nd, 2016The ductwork in your Starke, FL home endures natural wear and tear just as any appliance does. With only a couple months left of cooler weather, as you get ready to switch over from using your heat to your cooling, now is the perfect time to consider duct sealing.
Various factors contribute to the condition of your ductwork. Temperature and pressure fluctuations play a role, as does accumulating debris. Your ducts may suffer from tears, loose connections and small holes. These could all lead to poor performance.
Get Your Ducts Sealed This Fall
Monday, October 5th, 2015Fall is here, and while most of us probably won’t be turning on our heating systems for a couple more months, it’s still a good idea to prepare for winter. When you think about getting your home ready for the cold season, you probably think about things like heating maintenance. While it’s a good idea to make sure that your heater is in good condition, you should also make sure that your ducts are in good condition. Let’s take a look at why you should get your ducts sealed this fall.
How Duct Sealing Can Improve Your Air Conditioner Efficiency
Monday, April 20th, 2015With summer almost upon us, it’s time to start making sure that your air conditioner is ready for the hottest days of the year. Annual maintenance and timely repairs are obviously both a good idea. However, there is one thing you can do to improve your air conditioner efficiency that most people never think about: duct sealing. Read on to find out more about duct sealing, and how it can help your air conditioner keep you cool this summer.
Key Aspects of Duct Sealing
Monday, July 14th, 2014Your ductwork is an integral part of your air conditioning system. When there are cracks, broken seals, or detached sections in your ductwork, you can lose a lot of the air passing through the ducts. Duct cleaning can eliminate obstructions from dust and dirt, but to truly get your ductwork into the best shape possible, you may want to consider duct sealing in Lake City.
Potential Signs of Leaky Ductwork
The following can indicate that there are existing problems with your ductwork:
- Higher than normal energy bills without big changes with the in-or outdoor temperature
- Rooms that are difficult to cool
- Stuffy rooms that are uncomfortable
- Visible kinks in ductwork
The Benefits of Duct Sealing
There are multiple benefits to sealing your ductwork:
- Saves Energy
Sealing ducts increases your energy efficiency tremendously by reducing and/or eliminating air loss in your ductwork. This, in turn, reduces your energy bill, which can help you save money.
- Improves Indoor Air Quality
Leaky ductwork can allow multiple types of particles into your HVAC system, including allergens, dust and dirt. By sealing the ductwork, you can effectively reduce the amount of particles entering your system.
- Better Comfort
Leaky air ducts can contribute to the creation of hot and cold spots throughout a home. Reinstating a healthy, consistent flow of air to your home can help eliminate uneven cooling.
- Improved Safety
Gas appliances, such as dryers, water heaters and furnaces can release combustion gases through their vent work that can get drawn into your ductwork from a problem known as backdrafting. Sealing your ductwork can greatly reduce the risk of backdrafting in your air conditioner’s system.
- Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Sealing faulty ducts helps your system become more energy efficient; when you use less energy, you reduce your carbon footprint.
Duct Sealing Is Not a DIY Project – Call a Professional
Duct sealing involves a lot: a full inspection of your entire ductwork system, testing of the supply and return vents, checking for backdrafting, and of course, the sealing and repair work. It’s a lot of skilled work, and it is better left to someone with the training to do it.
If you think your air conditioning system in Lake City could benefit from duct sealing, call Touchstone Heating and Air, Inc., today and schedule an appointment.
Tools Professionals Use for Duct Sealing
Thursday, March 13th, 2014Here in Gainesville, FL, indoor air quality can be a big concern: not only dust and dirt blown around by your duct system, but biological pollutants like bacteria and viruses. When breaches arise in your ducts, indoor air quality tends to go down. Luckily, a reliable HVAC ompany can seal your ducts, which helps prevent contaminants from entering your system. It’s tougher than it looks. Despite the name, duct tape is an awful tool to seal your ducts (the temperature changes mean it will probably be loose again in a few days). Instead, the tools professionals use for duct sealing are much more specialized.
- Flex duct or similar patches. Patches for the breach need to need the specifications demanded by the ducts themselves, and ideally should be composed of the exact same materials. That allows it to respond to temperature changes and other stressors in the same manner as the surrounding material, which will help it last once it’s in place.
- Sheet metal tools. These are used to cut, shape and even fit the patch into place, and since the path is usually composed of some manner of sheet metal, the tools need to be right for the job. They can include sheers, hammers, crimpers and notchers.
- Tensioning tools and straps. These allow the patch to be held in place while the technician works on it, freeing up both of his hands rather than forcing him to use one to hold it in place. It allows the sealing operation to proceed more smoothly and efficiently, which is no small concern considering the narrow confines most ducts are located in.
The tools professionals use for duct cleaning are important, but they won’t add up to much without the right technician using them. If your have a breach in your ducts and need it sealed, then call on the experts at Touchstone Heating and Air Inc. for help. We work in Gainesville, FL, indoor air quality is a significant concern for us, and we have considerable experience in finding and sealing breaches in your ducts. Call us today to schedule an appointment!
