One thing that most people understand is that having a properly designed and installed ductwork system in place makes a big difference in the energy efficiency of a home. However, what many often overlook is the fact that if your ductwork is poorly designed or maintained, it can create a number of indoor air quality problems and negatively impact the health of the people living inside the home.
If you need help with your indoor air quality problems or would like to learn more about the steps you can take to improve the indoor air quality in your home, contact the heating & air conditioning experts at Galmiche & Sons in St. Louis today at 314-993-1110.
Indoor Air Quality Problems: 4 Effects of Leaky Ductwork
Here are some of the many negative effects that leaky ductwork can have inside your home:
- It attracts pollutants. Leaky ductwork can let in dust, debris, and other pollutants into your HVAC system, which will then proceed to distribute these pollutants throughout the home. This can cause severe indoor air quality problems that could trigger allergy attacks and respiratory issues among members of the family.
- It causes equipment to back draft. Using a combustion appliance such as a gas furnace can produce what is called “back drafting” if your ducts are not properly sealed. The harmful gases emitted by a combustion appliance are usually dispersed outdoors through a vent. However, your leaky ducts could pull these fumes back into your home. Back drafts poses a serious risk to your family because it could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
- It reduces humidity. The ductwork in your home plays a large role in controlling its humidity and comfort levels. If you have leaky ducts, it can cause excessive humidity inside the home resulting in mold and mildew growth. These can lead to indoor air quality problems, health complications for members of your family, and structural damage to your home.
- It affects the performance of the HVAC unit. Having an excessive leak in your ductwork system puts more stress on your HVAC system, making it work harder than it is used to. This could lead to equipment breakdown and increased energy consumption.
Need Help with Your Indoor Air Quality Problems?
There is more to your ductwork system than being just a set of tubes. It is a critical component to the success of your heating and cooling system and indoor air quality, which is why you need to pay attention to it as well.
Having fully sealed and properly insulated ductwork is an essential element of any efficient heating and cooling system. Just like everything else, it needs to be cleaned and maintained regularly. If the integrity of your duct system has been compromised, you should contact a professional HVAC company that can repair it and ensure there are no indoor air quality problems.
In the greater St. Louis area, have your ductwork checked by a seasoned professional from Galmiche & Sons. We have been serving the St. Louis community since 1950, and we have been fixing indoor air quality problems and providing consistent quality HVAC services for homes and businesses throughout St. Louis. For assistance with your indoor air quality problems, please get in touch with our heating & air conditioning company by calling us today at 314-993-1110.
