How Can You Protect Your HVAC Ductwork During Renovation Projects?

There's a lot to consider during a renovation project. In addition to sourcing supplies, hiring contractors, and making plans, you have to worry about cleaning up the mess once the whole thing is complete. While much of the disruption left behind by remodeling is visible, there's one part of your home where more subtle problems can occur: your HVAC ductwork.

Although you might not initially notice a problem, ductwork issues tend to grow worse and become more evident over time. If you're planning to remodel your home or have recently completed a remodeling project, then these three tips will help to ensure that your ductwork comes out the other side clean and functional.

1. Know Your Layout

There are nearly as many ductwork designs as there are residential homes. Depending on your home's specific circumstances, you may have ductwork running through the attic, basement, walls, or all of the above! Ductwork routing can get particularly complex in older homes with retrofitted forced air systems since installers must often fit the plumbing wherever they can.

Since there are so many possible locations for ductwork, remodeling projects have the potential to impact ducts in unexpected ways. Whether you are performing your renovation work yourself or hiring a contractor, always learn where the ducts in your home are before you proceed. Likewise, you should be aware of whether your home uses flex ducts or rigid metal ductwork.

Take special care when working anywhere near flex ductwork. The insulating material used on the outer skin of these ducts can be especially vulnerable to punctures, and the damage may not be immediately apparent. If you must move ducts out of the way for the work, be careful to avoid kinking or snagging any part of the line.

2. Inspect Affected Areas

If you or your contractors have spent any amount of time working near your home's HVAC ductwork, then you should consider a thorough inspection after the work is completed. Checking your ducts can be especially crucial if you are working in an attic or basement near ductwork, since you may be unaware of incidental damage caused by tool slips or other accidents.

Finding problems with your ductwork early on can help you to avoid more costly issues in the future. The humid environment of the Carolinas can be particularly troublesome since moisture can sometimes make its way into leaky ducts. Once unconditioned, moist air enters the system, you can quickly find yourself facing a severe mold problem.

Fortunately, professionals with experience in duct maintenance and repair should be able to locate any disturbed or damaged ductwork quickly. If you've exposed ductwork by removing walls or ceilings, have your ducts checked before you complete the work and reinstall drywall. The relatively small cost of an inspection may save you from destructive issues and costly repairs in the future.

3. Clean Your Ductwork

It's a good idea to have your ductwork cleaned anytime you do significant work inside of your home, especially if you cut wood or drywall. Dust from tearing down old parts of the structure or installing new walls, floors, fixtures, and so on can find its way into your ductwork. High volumes of dust can create air quality issues or even impact the operation of your HVAC air handler.

Duct cleaning after renovation work in a bathroom or kitchen is especially important, however. Working around areas with moisture may mean disturbing hidden mold spores, which can then blow through return vents into your ductwork. Any moisture can trigger these spores to begin growing, leading to hazardous air quality and allergy issues in the future.

Carolina Ductmasters can help you with all of your ductwork cleaning and servicing needs. If you're concerned about the state of your HVAC ducts after a recent remodeling project, then give us a call today to schedule an evaluation!