How do I stop excess dust due to unfinished heat/air duct crawlspace?
by
Robin Stein
+6
Had a new heat pump (HVAC) system installed last summer. While the crew was here, they also cleaned all of our vents, etc. Discovered that no one finished them in concrete or whatever material they should have used. It's just dirt down there. We could literally, dust our house daily and a layer of dust settles back over things every few days. Anyone have any suggestions? The only person who could fit done there to fix it would be an infant!
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If it hasn't been long there should be a warranty on labor. Obviously a duct was not connected or it disconnected. If the duct is flexible they may accidentally punctured it. Call them back and have them evaluate the problem. They need to correct it.
Call the company that did the work and explain this to them. Are you still covered by their warranty of has that expired? Make sure when you talk to them that you have all information handy (like your canceled check and a copy of their warranty.
I'm a bit confused but I am guessing you mean that your crawlspace is dirt. This would not cause any issues of excessive dust in the house. If a duct was not reconnected, as William stated call the company back. You can check this by making sure air is flowing into each one. You may even want to close them off one by one to determine where the problem is in the ducts.
More than likely, there is an area in your house that isn't properly sealed off and they may have disrupted the dirt with the HVAC work. You can hire a company to seal the area with a thick plastic. It is amazing the tight areas they can get into. We are completing our crawlspace with a vapor barrier to try and cut down on dust and keep cold/warm air where it should be.
Since you had this done last summer, call and see if they'll fix it for free, but have another company in mind to fix their mistake. I really wouldn't wait. Anyone that walks into your home is breathing that dust and it probably isn't good for some people.
Duct joints are typically sealed with mastic tape or a liquid compound, specifically formulated to seal joints and air leaks.
Did you have your furnace filter changed to a HEPA type for better dust control?
We have 2 filters for intake ducts which we change out monthly. I'll have to check to see what they are. Whats the difference?
Greetings! This is not the first time I have heard this question. I would like to ask you, why do repairs and start with pipes? The pipes are the last thing to be replaced during repairs. What can I advise you now? Install as many filters as possible and do not breathe dust. And I advise you to check the competence of your workers. Because no professional will start with pipes. I recently found a site where you can explore information about pipes - https://www.hvacschools411.com/licensing-requirements/. Use this information wisely! Good luck to you!
Hi Robin, I agree with Cole, add as many filters as you can, the ducting is the least concern with something like this, but if you're concerned about the dirt, you could put a coating of cement over it, or put some cement blocks down then seal with concrete.