How does duct testing and sealing make my home healthier?
Duct testing and sealing reduces indoor air pollutants two ways: First, testing duct systems for pressure balance can uncover negative indoor air pressures that cause the whole house to leak (bringing in air from the attic, crawl space, basement or garage) and cause backdrafting of fireplaces, wood stoves, furnaces and water heaters. Without testing, many of these problems are not uncovered and corrected. Second, sealing leaks in return ducts stops pollutants from being drawn into the home from the attic (insulation fibers, dust), crawl space (moisture, radon gas, pesticides, mold and mildew spores, animal residue, insulation fibers, dust), basement (mold, mildew, dust, carbon monoxide, chemical fumes) and the garage (car exhaust, carbon monoxide, chemical fumes, dust). Don’t try to fix your ducts without advice from a professional. If you seal them improperly, you may make the problems worse and create health risks.
