We’re getting towards the end of the summer, but here in Central California we still have another month or so of hot weather to get through. You’ll need to keep your air conditioner running strong for a few more weeks, and perhaps more importantly, you’ll want to make sure that your HVAC system as a whole is set for success, no matter what the weather.
Chances are that you’ve been running your air conditioner a lot the last few months, which means that conditions are primed for ductwork contamination.
Ductwork is one of the most vulnerable parts of any HVAC system. Moisture accumulation due to leaks can result in mold contamination, and debris buildup can choke off air circulation and eventually overwork your system.
Have you had Gilmore perform a checkup on your HVAC system? Then now is the time to give us a call, or send us a message with our appointment scheduler form to take advantage of our special promotional pricing before it ends!
Even if you’ve had your HVAC system checked recently, it’s always a good to have preventive maintenance program for your air ducts—whether or not you decide to have the air ducts in your home cleaned. It not only helps prevent contamination—it provides great peace of mind knowing that your indoor air quality is the best it can be.
8 Ways to Prevent Dirt from Entering Your HVAC System:
- Use the highest efficiency air filter recommended by the manufacturer of your heating and cooling system.
- Change filters regularly.
- If your filters become clogged, change them more frequently.
- Be sure you do not have any missing filters and that air cannot bypass filters through gaps around the filter holder.
- When having your heating and cooling system maintained or checked for other reasons, be sure to ask the service provider to clean cooling coils and drain pans.
- During construction or renovation work that produces dust in your home, seal off supply and return registers and do not operate the heating and cooling system until after cleaning up the dust.
- Remove dust and vacuum your home regularly. (Use a high efficiency vacuum (HEPA) cleaner or the highest efficiency filter bags your vacuum cleaner can take. Vacuuming can increase the amount of dust in the air during and after vacuuming as well as in your ducts).
- If your heating system includes in-duct humidification equipment, be sure to operate and maintain the humidifier strictly as recommended by the manufacturer.
How to Keep Moisture from Building up in your HVAC Ductwork
When water builds up in ducts, this can promote biological contamination, such as mold that is unhealthy and even dangerous to breathe. That’s why it’s very important to make sure there is no moisture in your air ducts by carefully controlling the environment.
Moisture can enter the duct system through leaks, or if the system has been improperly installed or serviced. Research suggests that condensation on or near air conditioner cooling coils is a major factor in moisture contamination. So, condensation or high relative humidity is an important indicator of the potential for mold growth on any type of duct.
3 Smart Tips for Controlling Moisture:
- If you know something is wrong, don’t delay in getting your A/C system repaired. Promptly and properly repair any leaks or water damage.
- Pay attention to cooling coils which remove water from the air—they can be a major source of moisture contamination of the system that can lead to mold growth. Make sure the condensate pan drains properly. The presence of substantial standing water and/or debris indicates a problem requiring immediate attention. Check any insulation near cooling coils for wet spots.
- Make sure ducts are properly sealed and insulated in all non-air-conditioned spaces (e.g., attics and crawl spaces). This will help to prevent moisture due to condensation from entering the system and is important to make the system work as intended. To prevent water condensation, the heating and cooling system must be properly insulated.
If your AC system isn’t working at its peak capacity, it’s probably time for a checkup, especially as the weather starts to turn in the next couple months and increased moisture raises the odds of indoor air quality concerns. Talk to the HVAC experts at Gilmore Heating Air & Plumbing by giving us a call, or send us a message through our appointment form. We look forward to hearing from you!
