Understanding why your ductwork sweats can help avoid costly AC repairs.
Air conditioners can stop working at the most inopportune times. When an AC breaks down, a homeowner's main priority will be restoring the comfort in their home. An AC can stop working for various reasons, some reasons being costly to repair if left unchecked. Some issues, like ductwork sweating, are easier to handle and cheaper to fix.
Ductwork sweating occurs when AC ducts have condensation built up on them. This issue is easy for a contractor to diagnose and fix, provided the homeowner calls someone to check their system. Understanding the functions of duct working and why this sweating occurs helps to put a homeowner's mind at rest. It will also help avoid costly AC repair.
What does ductwork do?
Ductwork runs through a home or building to spread conditioned air throughout the space within. A furnace, air conditioner, or combination of the two, like an HVAC system, will connect to the ductwork and provide the conditioned air to circulate through the system. The conditioned air will exit through air vents into each room and provide cool or warm air, depending on the system.
Air ducts can be made from fiberglass, fiberboard, or sheet metal, and homeowners should familiarize themselves with what type is in their home. Knowing the type of ductwork system will help to prevent ductwork sweating from occurring. Older houses will often have metal ductwork systems in them. Flexible ductwork is the other alternative found in modern homes. These flexible alternatives consist of tubing made of plastic with reinforced wiring and insulation. Metal ducts suffer the most from duct sweating, especially when they lack proper insulation. Flexible ducts have their own drawbacks as well.
So why is condensation such a problem?
Condensation builds up on metal surfaces in ductwork when the air's temperature passing through it goes from cold to warm. The warm air passing over the previously cool metal will cause condensation on the metal's surface.
Condensation is the reverse of evaporation; it's the process in which water vapor turns into a liquid. Cold air cannot hold the same amount of moisture that warm air can. When warm air meets the cooler metal surface of the air ducts, it creates water droplets. This process isn't the only reason ductwork sweating can occur, but it is the most likely when a contractor diagnoses the problem.
Why is condensation harmful?
So why is a little extra moisture such a big problem with ductwork? Paying attention to whether a home's ductwork is sweating is vital to extend the system's life. Small amounts of moisture aren't the end of the world for a ductwork system. It won't cause significant damage, but if the water is constant or starts to increase in amounts, homeowners should call a contractor in as soon as possible.
Here are some reasons why ductwork sweating is an issue:
1. Damage to insulation in the home or building
The added moisture from condensation build-up will eventually threaten things near it, including insulation. The condensation will start dripping onto the insulation, lowering its efficiency and the home's resale value with time. A lack of proper insulation will also result in higher energy costs. Wet insulation may lead to ceiling leaks or collapse due to the added weight of the moisture.
2. Added indoor humidity
Humidity is harmful to a person's health in high amounts. It's also dangerous to homes. Sweating from ductwork adds excess moisture to the home's air, lessening its comfort. Wood floors, paint, wallpaper, and carpeting can be affected by high humidity, leaving foul odors in the house. These repairs will often be costly.
3. Mold and mildew growth
Mold can play havoc on a person's immune system, especially anyone in the home with allergies. Mildew and mold grow best in moist and warm places. Excess moisture from ductwork sweating makes the ideal environment for mildew and mold to thrive.
Mold has created another nasty problem homeowners will have to contend with: it can eat through most surfaces it grows on. Mold will damage a home's structural components the longer it grows. It can damage furniture around the house, and wood in the home's structure, and cause health issues by releasing spores into the air. Anyone with allergies or compromised immune systems will be affected the most.
4. Damage to structural elements by moisture
Wood and water have never been the best of friends. Most houses are built with wood frames, resulting in condensation sweating becoming a significant issue for homeowners to avoid.
What can homeowners do about duct sweating?
Calling a contractor to inspect a home for duct sweating is a good first step when homeowners spot excess moisture. Various reasons can cause duct sweating in homes, such as mechanical issues with the HVAC system, poor insulation, excessive moisture in the air, blocked or damaged ducts, clogged air filters, leaky ducts, or many other reasons in homes.
Diagnosing the moisture problem, and fixing it, will be the contractor's main priority when they enter the home. They will provide an estimate before doing any work in the house or on the property. Homeowners can reduce the amount of duct sweating in their homes and lower repair costs like lowering the humidity level in the home or maintaining ducts with regular servicing. If the home has metal ducts, adding insulation to their surfaces will help reduce condensation.
Keeping air filters does more than make the air cleaner to breathe; it also helps the HVAC system run efficiently and extends the lifespan of the ducts in the home. Keeping an HVAC system's air filter clean can reduce up to 15% of the home's energy costs. A dirty air filter will also lead to higher humidity in the home, making it essential to clean it when reducing a home's humidity.
What to do next?
Knowing how duct sweating occurs and ways to prevent it will help homeowners save time and money. The best way to avoid the problem of excess moisture is to have a professional HVAC contractor inspect the home's ductwork and provide options for upgrading or replacing it. A contractor will be able to pinpoint the exact issue causing the excess moisture and provide affordable options for fixing it.