What's the Deal with Sweaty Air Ducts?

If you often notice small water droplets forming on the air ducts around your home, this is due to condensation, or air duct sweating as it is sometimes called. Condensation can be a problem with all types of air ducts at certain times of the year and although it does not necessarily mean there is something fundamentally wrong with your HVAC system, it can lead to more serious issues if not tackled quickly. Heavy condensation can result in water damage to your home as well as mold and mildew. If mold and mildew take hold in your ducting, any family members who suffer from allergies or asthma may find it more difficult to breathe. It’s also worth bearing in mind that water damage can be very expensive to repair. For all these reasons, the sooner you deal with the problem the better. To help you get started, our duct cleaning team has put together some helpful suggestions that you can try.

Tackling Sweaty Air Ducts: Tips From Our HVAC Cleaning Arvada Team

For less severe condensation, the following suggestions should help you to minimize the problem and keep your HVAC system working efficiently. For more serious ductwork sweating, we strongly recommend getting in touch with an HVAC cleaning or air vent cleaning company to request professional assistance.

Change Your Air Filters Regularly

One of the cheapest and easiest ways to reduce ductwork sweating in your home is to replace your air filters regularly. Dirty filters can impede airflow and exacerbate the problem. If you are already following the manufacturer’s recommended replacement schedule and your filters look really dirty by the time you change them, consider using disposable filters and replacing them more often. Some homeowners find they are able to reduce sweating and improve air quality by replacing their filters every month.

Clean Your Ductwork Regularly

Dirty or blocked ducts also restrict airflow, which is why you should clean them frequently or have them cleaned by a professional duct/vent cleaner. If you live in Arvada, just call and ask to speak to one of our experts; if you live elsewhere, you should be able to find a local HVAC professional by searching online for ‘duct cleaning near me’. For most homes, it is not necessary to have the air ducts cleaned more than once every three years but if you live in an area with particularly poor air quality, you might find that you need to call in a professional team more often than this.

Lower the Humidity Level in the Areas Where Your Ducts Are Installed

If the air where your vents are installed is very humid, this will naturally lead to more condensation issues. The simplest way to combat this particular problem is to ensure the ducts are installed far enough apart to allow decent air flow at all times. If you have any ducts that run underneath your floors, you can also install a crawl space ground cover to reduce the humidity in this area of your property. If you still find that the air in your home is very humid, consider investing in a dehumidifier.

Repair Any Leaking Ducts

If you notice that any of your air ducts are leaking, you should have them repaired at the earliest possible opportunity. Your local duct cleaning specialists will probably also offer a professional repair service so we’d recommend calling them in the first instance. The more cold air that leaks from your ducts, the more sweating you will notice so fixing this issue should lead to an immediate and noticeable improvement.

Replacing Metal Ducts with Fiberglass Lined Ducts

Condensation can often be more of a problem in homes fitted with metal ducts that are not insulated. For this reason, if you are embarking on a major home renovation project and you currently have plain metal ductwork, you might like to take this opportunity to replace it with fiberglass-insulated ductwork. If you are not keen on taking such drastic action or it’s simply not convenient for you right now, check out our alternative suggestion below.

Install Fiberglass Insulation

An alternative to replacing metal ducts is to have a local HVAC professional retrofit them with fiberglass insulation. If properly installed, this action can significantly reduce condensation issues, especially when you also follow the other suggestions we have provided. Some homeowners install their own insulation but we’d only recommend doing this if you are a competent handyman with plenty of experience.

Have Your HVAC System Serviced by a Qualified Professional

If none of the above suggestions reduce ductwork sweating in your home or you have noticed other issues with your system, we recommend getting in touch with an HVAC expert in your area. If, for example, you have noticed reduced airflow in your ducting and it does not improve after an HVAC cleaning team has made sure the ductwork is spotless, you may have a problem with your A/C compressor. If your system is no longer able to maintain a constant temperature around your home, this is another sign that you may have a more serious problem. In these cases, a qualified professional should be consulted.

We hope you find our HVAC cleaning team’s suggestions useful and if you are looking for a company that can perform air vent cleaning in Arvada, please do not hesitate to call or message us now.