About Home Ducts and Vents

Energy

• To maximize the efficiency of your home's heating and cooling system while lowering the cost to run them, look for problems in your ducts and vents. The California Energy Commission estimates that nearly 10 percent of a home's energy usage is wasted due to leaky ducts. These leaks might be caused by snags in the tubing or by natural wear and tear that causes the joints to separate. Some leaks are even caused by negligent contractors who don't properly attach the ducts to the vents or even forget to attach them at all. Poor design is another cause for waste. When ducts are forced into small areas, they get pinched, blocking the flow of air. Likewise, some contractors might use improperly sized ducts for the accompanying heating or air conditioning unit.

Health

• According to the American Lung Association, Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors. It further asserts that people are far more likely to experience breathing-related problems due to indoor air pollution than they are from outdoor pollution. Even though the Environmental Protection Agency does not support the claim that dirty ducts and vents are the root cause of indoor allergies, they do support the assumption that a buildup of dust, mold and bacteria within your home ducts and vents can exacerbate the symptoms of some asthmatic and breathing conditions.

Maintenance

• One way to ensure your home's ducts and vents are working to efficiently deliver clean air into your home is to perform regular do-it-yourself maintenance. Some simple things you can do on your own are to periodically clean and replace air filters, as well as remove any accumulated dust from supply vents and cold-air return grills. The EPA suggests hiring a professional duct-cleaning service to clean your ducts and vents if there is visible mold or vermin present or if the ducts are excessively clogged with dust. Professional cleaners should inspect and clean your entire heating and cooling system, including registers, fans, ducts and coils. Unless a third-party laboratory has conclusively identified mold present in the ducts, the EPA warns against the application of disinfectant, as none have yet been approved for use inside ducts and vents.

Time and Cost

• The time and cost it takes for a professional duct-cleaning service to clean your ducts and vents can vary. Typically, the entire process takes 4 to 5 hours. You can expect to spend $80 to $150 an hour. But if you take into consideration how much money you might waste on dirty, leaky ducts and on any associated medical expenses, this upfront investment might be well worth the cost. Likewise, your local utility company might issue an energy rebate for maintaining your home ducts and vents.

Considerations

• Contrary to popular belief, duct tape does not work in sealing ducts. Repeated testing by scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory revealed it consistently failed when compared to other types of sealant. What works are mastics, gooey substances that you paint on and that harden when dry. For metal ducts, sheet metal screws work best. To hold together flexible ducts, you should use metal or plastic bands.