Duct Cleaning vs. Duct Sealing: What’s the Difference (and Do You Need Both?)
How often do you think about your ducts? Your air ducts are a key part of your home’s HVAC system and vital to your health and comfort, so they sometimes need some TLC.
Duct cleaning and duct sealing are things you can consider as part of maintaining your ducts and your indoor environment. However, what’s the difference? And do you need both?
What is Duct Cleaning and What Are the Benefits?
Duct cleaning is the routine removal of dirt, dust, and debris from your ducts. As material builds up in your ducts, your air conditioning and heating systems have to work harder to force air through them, resulting in higher bills. It can also result in hot or cold spots and uneven airflow, or your air conditioning taking longer to reach the desired temperature.
Even worse, dirty ducts can worsen allergies and indoor air quality, especially if you have pets. You may even notice a musty smell. This is mold or mildew building up in your ducts, which can damage your health. Dust from your ducts can be blown into your home, settling on surfaces, and resulting in more time spent cleaning.
You should typically have your ducts cleaned every five years, unless you have furry pets. In which case, you might need to do it every three years. You should also consider having your ducts cleaned after any significant home renovations, such as a new kitchen.
Benefits:
- Cleaner air
- Lower bills
- Reduced mold, improving health for people and pets
- Less time spent cleaning
What is Duct Sealing and What Are the Benefits?
Duct sealing, on the other hand, means going through your ducts to find and fill cracks and holes so you aren’t heating or cooling the outside or your attic or crawlspace. Dust from outside can also be pulled in through holes and then distributed in your home. Leaky ducts can also reduce airflow, leading to hot and cold spots in your home.
Aeroseal duct sealing is noninvasive, using intelligent technology to find all the leaks in your ducts and then filling them with a non-toxic formula similar to chewing gum. Yes, chewing gum. Basically, escaping air is put under pressure, causing the sealant to stick to the edge of the leak and itself.
Benefits:
- Cleaner air
- Lower bills
- Reduced mold
- Reduced outdoor pollutants and other contaminants entering your home
- Reduced pests and vermin entering your home— insect pests and even small rodents can get in through holes in your ducts.
How to Get Maximum Benefit Together
As you can see, duct cleaning and duct sealing have a lot of the same benefits. They reduce uneven heating or cooling, lower your bills, and reduce dust, mold, and contaminants in your home.
Do you need both?
You should get your ducts cleaned regularly. Duct sealing is typically recommended when cleaning doesn’t solve the problem. We can also take a look at your ducts when we clean them to find problems.
And, of course, if you do want to get your ducts filled, you should get them cleaned first. This way, the sealant isn’t trapping contaminants in your ducts. For most homeowners, cleaning the ducts is the first step. You may or may not need to seal them afterward. We also recommend getting your ducts sealed after a new install. Even the very best installers may leave leakage points here and there, so it adds an extra layer of protection.
Duct Cleaning and Duct Sealing Make a Healthier Home
If you are seeing increased dust, smelling a musty odor, watching your bills go up, or experiencing uneven heating or cooling, the problem may be your ducts. Contact Mid-Fla Heating & Air today to get your ducts cleaned and inspected.
