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Leaky ductwork can affect air quality
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By Ken Sheinkopf
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
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Q: A local
hearing company did an inspection of our system recently and it said
we had some holes and rips in our ductwork. When I told the inspectors
that my wife and I had both been sick on and off for months, they said
this could be the problem. Can that be right?
A: It sure can. I get a lot of mail about
ducts, mostly related to high energy bills and frequent commercials by
duct-cleaning and repair companies. Most people seem aware of the
connection between leaky ducts and wasted energy, and ducts are
certainly one of the most important potential problems resulting in
high utility bills. But people often are not aware of the effects of
poor ducts on a home's indoor air quality.
People usually realize that ducts need to be properly sealed to keep
air flowing from the heating and air-conditioning system without
escaping into me attic, garage or other places inside and out of the
home. But the unwanted airflow goes the other way, too. Leaks in ducts
draw in dust, pollen, humidity and other unwanted things from the
attic, crawl space and other parts of your home as well as from the
outdoors and then distribute this throughout the house.
The bottom line is that if an inspection of the ducts shows that they
are leaky, you have to get them fixed. Ducts that are not tightly
sealed will basically wipe out any other efforts you're making to save
energy and make your home more comfortable.
There are a number of other fact ors that affect indoor air quality as
well, and you ought to think about these if you've been feeling sick
at home.
Strategies for keeping indoor air clean include vacuuming carpets and
furniture on a regular basis. (An allergen-trapping vacuum cleaner is
a good investment), changing the bed sheets and pillowcases every
week, storing food in airtight containers to keep roaches and other
pests away, inspecting the filters on the heating and cooling system
monthly and changing them when necessary, and stopping smoking and
burning incense and candles indoors. Also be sure to use your kitchen
exhaust fans when cooking, and keep cleaning products, paint and other
products that give off fumes in the garage or outdoors.
Ken Sheinkopf is a communications
specialist with the
American
Solar Energy Society
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