Bartels Heating & Cooling Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Ductwork’

Is Duct Sealing Really Helpful?

Monday, January 20th, 2020

Not only is duct sealing helpful, in situations of major duct leakage it’s a necessity. Going without it means paying more to heat and cool your house, creating extra strain on the HVAC system, a shorter life for the heater and AC, unhealthy and poor-smelling air in the house, and other problems.

We know why people wonder about the usefulness of duct sealing. It’s because ducts are hard to see. This makes it difficult to visualize the ducts needing to have any repairs in the first place. When you see damage to a wall or dying grass on the lawn, it’s a signal to do something about it. The only warning signs you’ll have that your ducts are in trouble are second-hand issues that might be from other troubles. These include higher energy bills and hot/cold spots around the house.

Tags: Duct Sealing, Ductwork, Lebanon
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The Benefits of Professional Sheet Metal Ductwork Installation

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

Most modern AC and heating systems require a set of ducts for air delivery. Air is conditioned at the indoor air handler, and a blower fan pushes this air into the ducts, which serve as a pathway to the different rooms in your home. But these ducts may potentially suffer from a number of different problems. Poor duct installation and care leads to problems such as uneven heating and cooling, poor energy efficiency, and broken HVAC equipment.

Only allow your new ductwork to be installed and serviced by a sheet metal ductwork specialist in Fairfield. Call Bartels Heating & Cooling for your ductwork installation, repair, and cleaning needs.

The Benefits of Sheet Metal

Sheet metal ductwork is the most common type of ductwork found in home. There are other options, however, including ductboard and flexible ducts. But sheet metal is proven to be effective, standing up to damages. Fiber ducts can be difficult to install, and the potential exists for fiberglass to move into your ducts. Sheet metal is tough and effective, plus it comes in many different shapes and sizes for ease of installation.

Why Choose Professionals

If you pick a professional for ductwork installation, you can feel assured that the ducts in your home are tightly sealed. When ducts are first installed in a new home, the job is not always completed by HVAC professionals. This is why so many homes suffer from leaky ducts—most homes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In fact, the EPA estimates that the typical home HVAC system loses about 20-30% of its heating and cooling power in the ducts.

HVAC professionals will make sure that the ducts are sized properly for your home and for your HVAC system. They will install the ducts in an efficient way, establishing the most direct route possible between the air handler and the vents in your home. After installation, they will test the ducts with an air pressure test and they may do a test run of your heating and AC system as well. Professionals have all the tools and expertise to ensure that all of the parts are just right.

Call Bartels Heating & Cooling for quality ductwork services in Fairfield today!

Tags: Ductwork, Fairfield
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Ways to Tell Your Ductwork Needs Sealing

Wednesday, October 29th, 2014

Calling for professionals to seal holes and gaps in the ductwork of your home’s ventilation system is important to maintain efficient heating and cooling, as well as to protect your indoor air quality from a decline due to contamination entering through the breaks. However…how can you know that your ductwork is in need of sealing when most of the air ducts in the ventilation system remain unseen behind walls and ceilings?

It can be a bit of challenge to detect ducts that are leaking air, but if you know what signs to watch for, you should be able to catch the warnings and call up Bartels Heating & Cooling in time to have the holes sealed before the problem grows worse. Below we’ve listed some of the more common indications that you need to call for repairs on your ductwork in Hamilton, OH.

Warning Signs of Leaking Air Ducts That Need Professional Sealing

Odd smells from the vents: When ductwork develops holes, they will usually appear in places that are dusty and musty, such as between walls or in crawl spaces. This will allow air with unpleasant smells into the ducts and then out the vents into your living spaces. Any unpleasant odor emanating from your vents is something you should have professionals investigate right away.
Drop in airflow: It only takes a small hole in a duct to cause the airflow inside it to drop noticeably. (Ducts have airtight sealing in order to prevent this air pressure loss.) When you notice lower airflow from the vents into the rooms, it usually means that something is wrong somewhere along the ventilation system, and air leaks are one of the main suspects.
High heating/cooling bills: A drop in air pressure will also lead to an increase in your heating and cooling costs, since the heater/air conditioner will need to strain harder to reach its normal temperature. You can expect both higher comfort costs and also an increase in repairs for the system because of the extra stress.

Don’t ignore any of these warning signs. Even if they are not due to leaking air ducts, they definitely point to trouble somewhere in your HVAC system. Call for the professionals at Bartels Heating & Cooling right away. We can handle any repairs for your ductwork in Hamilton, OH, and we also take care of air conditioning and heating repairs. Make us your first stop for indoor comfort.

Tags: Ductwork, Hamilton
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How Does Duct Cleaning Help Your Heating and Air Conditioning System?

Wednesday, September 17th, 2014

Fall is a great time to clean and maintain your heating and air conditioning systems, including your ductwork. Ductwork can often be overlooked, mostly because it isn’t as visible as the other parts of your system. But like the other parts of your HVAC system, your ductwork can become dirty, and the best way to remove dirt and dust build-up is with a professional duct cleaning service in Fairfield, OH. Bartel’s Heating & Cooling has been servicing heating and cooling clients since 1973, and we have the trained technicians to help you with all your ductwork needs.

What Happens During a Professional Duct Cleaning?

Here is a general overview of what to expect during a professional duct cleaning appointment:

The technician will connect a vacuum hose to your air duct system via access ports. Each outlet is sealed off to ensure no contamination occurs during the cleaning.
The technician will remove each grill and thoroughly clean it. He/she may also air-blast the first few feet of the duct to clean the entrance area.
The technician then inserts a tool called an air sweep, which is fastened to a high pressure air hose, and sends it down the entire length of distribution ducts. The air sweep breaks loose sticking contaminants like dirt, dust, grime, fungus, and other material that may be inside the ducts. This material is then sucked along the duct to the trunk lines.
The technician will replace the grills and clean around them with a HEPA vacuum cleaner, ensuring all supply and return lines have been completed cleaned.
The trunk lines (lines which carry the air between the furnace and the lateral ducts) are swept and brushed clean in the same manner as above.
The technician will clean the fan, blower compartment, plenum, AC coil, return air compartment and the air handling side of the furnace with an air pressure tool and a vacuum.
The technician will check the entire system again to ensure all vent work has been cleaned.
The technician will complete a thorough clean-up of the entire work area.

How Does Duct Cleaning Help Your HVAC System?

Better energy efficiency – if the build-up in your ductwork was substantial, it may have reduced air flow; this can cause your HVAC system to use more energy as it struggles to achieve the temperature you’ve set. Removing this build-up helps the system to operate normally again.
Less stress for your air conditioner – a dirty system is a system under stress; when an HVAC system operates under stressful conditions for long periods of time, it can age the system prematurely. Keeping your ductwork clean helps reduce this effect.

It’s recommended that your ductwork is cleaned every 3-5 years. How long has it been since you’ve had a duct cleaning in Fairfield, OH? If it’s been longer than this, call Bartel’s Heating & Cooling today and schedule an appointment.

Tags: Ductwork, Fairfield
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