Ways To Address Condensation On Your HVAC Ductwork

Are your HVAC ducts sweating? Don't sweat it. 

Duct condensation is common in homes that use ductwork to heat, cool, and ventilate each room. It happens because of the temperature difference between the air inside the ducts and the air outside. 

During the cooling season, tiny water droplets may form on the surface of your air ducts because the outside air is warmer than the air inside. In the wintertime, the problem can happen because the air inside the ducts is warmer than the outside air.

Here are some precautions to help prevent condensation on your residential HVAC ducts.

Duct Sealing

Proper duct sealing is your first line of defense against duct condensation. An airtight duct system won't allow conditioned air to escape and form condensation. You can check for duct leaks by using a pressure gauge. If you do not have one, place the back of your hand against the duct to feel for any escaping air.

Alternatively, you can hire a duct leak detection expert to find the leaks. 

Duct Insulation

Like other types of insulation used in other areas of your home, duct insulation serves one purpose—protecting your ducts from the outside temperature. Insulating your duct system will help prevent energy losses as the conditioned air travels through the ducts.

However, the insulation material may become less effective at protecting your ducts from the outside temperature as it degrades over time. When this happens, condensation may occur on your duct system.

Be sure to inspect and test your duct insulation periodically to ascertain that it is intact and adequate for your home heating and cooling purposes. This can help you stop duct condensation issues.

Duct Cleaning

Clean air ducts ensure the free flow of conditioned air throughout the air ducts. On the other hand, dirty or obstructed ducts make the air hotter or colder in some air ducts, increasing the risk of duct sweating. 

Undertaking regular duct cleaning should help prevent this from happening.

Strategies to prevent HVAC duct system condensation issues in your home must take into account the need to minimize contact between the inside air and the outside air. Proper insulation of your entire home can significantly lower the risk of duct condensation and improve the overall energy efficiency of your home.

Contact an HVAC contractor that serves residents of your area to learn more about ways to prevent condensation on your air ducts.