Sealing your duct work can be the key to a safer, healthier home.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology estimates that, “Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, where they are repeatedly exposed to indoor allergens and airborne particles that can lead to respiratory symptoms and conditions”.
Sealing can improve your home health by:
- Improving your indoor air quality
- Reducing dust
- Lowering your risk of moisture build up
Improving your indoor air quality
If too little outdoor air enters your home and isn’t able to circulate properly, pollutants can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems. Symptoms of poor indoor air quality are very broad and depend on the contaminant. They can easily be mistaken for symptoms of other illnesses such as allergies, stress, colds and influenza. The most common symptoms are:
- Improving your indoor air quality
- Reducing dust
- Lowering your risk of moisture build up
Reducing dust
Reducing your dust levels isn’t just more convenient for your Swiffer, it also reduces dust levels in hard to reach places like your crawlspace, attic, and behind your walls that if untreated can cause irritants and illness. High levels of dust can cause:
- Irritation of the eyes
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Hay Fever
- Asthma attacks
Lowing your risk of moisture build up
Leaky ducts can also lead to mold and mildew – agents known to cause breathing problems and sickness. When your home is cool, warm outside air can come in through gaps in your duct work and around windows and doors. When the warm air comes into contact with cooler walls, it can condense into water and allow mold to grow inside your home. Mold allergies can include:
- A runny or blocked nose
- Watery, red eyes
- A dry cough
- Skin rashes
- A sore throat
- Snusitis
- Wheezing
How can you tell if your ducts are leaking?
- Take a look at your air vents and registers. Is there a build up of dust in and around the covers?
- Do you need to dust your home more often than necessary?
- Does your home have inconsistent airflow or hot and cold spots?
If you are experiencing any of these health symptoms or if you suspect problems with leaky ducts, you can take a DIY approach by sealing air leaks with mastic sealant or metal tape and insulating ducts you can reach (like in your crawlspace, basement, garage, and attic). Some duct work is in hard-to-reach areas, which makes it necessary to work with a professional to both find and effectively seal leaks throughout your home. For a more thorough solution to your leaky duct problem, Odin Energy ensures a comprehensive approach to a tighter seal at your home’s air registers, piping, and vents where they meet the walls, floor, and ceiling.
