Familiarizing yourself with your HVAC system and its features can be too overwhelming, but it’s still necessary to ensure you’re operating it correctly and effectively. However, there could still be instances wherein you’ll encounter issues that may need to be addressed by repairs or even replacements. It may include dilemmas like these:
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Temperature Control Issues
If temperatures are uneven throughout your place, it’s likely that there is a stuck damper or thermostat issue impacting specific zones. Take note that this problem can be due to airflow blockages, dirty evaporator coils or refrigerant leaks. -
Electrical Issues
If you have noticed your system suddenly shutting down, a blown fuse might just be the problem. However, if this happens a lot as your HVAC cycles on, you may have an issue with your air conditioner’s capacitor – this ensures even electric current through your condenser. Remember that if malfunctions, fuses are likely to blow. -
Odors From Ventilation System
For this one, it’s best to check if there is any damage to the outside of the unit. If you can’t find a solution for your smelly air conditioner, you might have a leak, and you will need it fixed as soon as possible. You may need to call for an air condition repair team immediately about installing ultraviolet (UV) air purifiers that will combat this growth from inside your HVAC system.
However, what if you come across a ductwork issue? Perhaps, a sweaty one? Although this sounds harmless, it can actually decrease your system’s efficiency. It also promotes mold and mildew growth on walls, ceilings, attics, basements and crawl spaces, which is not only unsightly, but also dangerous to your health. In this post, we’ll guide you through dealing with and preventing ductwork condensation.
Understanding Ductwork Sweating
It is true that condensation is a major problem when it comes to HVAC ductwork. If your unit has a condensation issue, this can significantly affect the performance of the air conditioning unit in particular.
Condensation is a result of many factors. It normally happens when water droplets form on the outside of your HVAC ductwork. Essentially, there are two reasons behind sweaty ductwork: one, uninsulated or poorly insulated ducts; and two, humid air coming into contact with cold ductwork.
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Poor insulation: When warm, moisture-laden air comes in contact with the cool surface of your ducts, condensation forms. The condensed water droplets are now ready to do their worst, wreaking havoc on ceilings, drywall and anything else in the area, including insulation, which becomes compressed and loses its ability to insulate. On the other hand, under-insulated ducts prompt comfort problems and wasted energy as your system needs to run longer to cool the living space.
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Excess moisture: Should your ducts be cold, but come into contact with only dry air, then there’s no condensation problem. The issue arises when humid air comes in from the outdoors and/or the humidity is not relieved with a dehumidifier.
Identifying The Cause of Ductwork Condensation
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Leaky Ducts
Ducts may develop leaks during the installation phase or over time. These leaks then allow the dry air to escape the ductwork and moist air to enter the ducts. This can result in moisture buildup in the ducts, which causes the condensation. -
Low Refrigerant
Remember that the right amount of refrigerant in your AC is required to cool the air and reach the desired temperature. Hence, should the refrigerant level be lower, this reduces the pressure within the evaporator coils, leading to a lower temperature at the same time. As a result, the evaporator and the suction line may ice over, which is bad news. In this way, problems with refrigerant levels directly contribute to condensation. -
Poor Airflow
If by any chance you experience poor airflow from the ducts, this is an indication that there is an obstruction. This is what is preventing the air to flow freely inside the ducts may also trap moisture and cause condensation buildup.
Fixing and Avoiding Ductwork Sweating
While condensation is a huge problem to address, fortunately, there are ways you can do to ensure your HVAC unit will be able to operate properly as expected.
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Insulate: Your ductwork is made of metal and has no insulating qualities whatsoever, so it takes on the temperature of the air passing through it. Insulating according to code requirements will prevent this, letting you keep condensation from forming.
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Seal: Sealing gaps and cracks in the walls surrounding your ductwork will keep levels of indoor humidity manageable. The lower the moisture in the air passing through the ductwork, the lower the chances of condensation forming. To properly seal your unit, follow these:
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Remove the register or return grill, and tape the duct openings closed.
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Larger openings can be secured by taping plastic sheeting over the openings.
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For your bathroom and kitchen or areas of high humidity, care should be taken to make certain that complete protection is made.
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For areas with severe conditions, sealing on the exterior of registers and grills may be adequate.
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Dehumidify: You can also keep moisture levels in the air low by using a dehumidifier. This fix is best for ductwork located in attics or crawl spaces.
Above all, prevention is still the best way to avoid all the hassle. This is achievable by making sure you have scheduled regular inspections and routine maintenance with your trusted company for your system’s upkeep. Moreover, you should immediately contact a local technician if you think your HVAC unit has problems. And whatever the concern is, a repair or replacement must always be done immediately.
Dedicated to excellence from start to finish, EZ Air Conditioning and Heating can handle all of your residential and light commercial HVAC requirements, like air condition repair. Count on us to offer prompt and convenient scheduling, and adhere to the agreed-upon timetable. Contact us today at (210) 529-8668 for more information and estimates. We look forward to working with you and taking care of all your HVAC needs.
