Introduction
The air duct system in a mobile home is located underneath the floorboards in the crawl space between the ground and the underbelly of the home; the system resembles an aluminum foil-covered, box-shaped tunnel. Because they are located underneath the home, the air ducts are tedious to access and a pain to replace, requiring the person replacing the ducts to spend hours in the dark in awkward positions with the ever-present threat of snakes and spiders.
Problems Leading to Replacement Needs
Several problems in a mobile home's ductwork may be a cause for a needed air duct replacement. Mice can chew into the ductwork allowing unfiltered air into the system, or larger animals and unpleasant reptiles and insects turn the ductwork into a home. The air ducts may also need to be replaced if mold or mildew growth becomes excessive or if dirt and dust engulf the air duct and supply registers.
Getting to the Air Ducts to Replace Them
To replace an existing air duct system in a mobile home a technician will have to ready themselves with all the necessary tools: these include a flashlight and a garden hoe to defend against snakes or scorpions. The technician will then crawl underneath the mobile home and begin to rip out the floor insulation to get to the air duct system. Usually two or more technicians will work together to get the job done; this way, one holds the flashlight where needed and also can watch for snakes.
The insulation and ductwork must be removed carefully, since dangerous creatures may be residing in either of the two. When the air ducts are removed, the technicians will replace them with new clean ductwork of similar dimensions.
Replacing the Air Ducts
The new air ducts are mounted into place using supporting braces so that holes do not have to be drilled or nailed into the ductwork. The new air ducts are fitted back into the same spots the previous ducts were, so that they stretch between the numerous supply registers and vents. Once the new ducts are installed, the technicians replace the pieces of installation as they were previously.
Maintaining Clean Air Ducts
If your air ducts are not maintained after replacement or repairs, another replacement or repair may be required even sooner. To maintain the cleanliness of your air ducts, you may wish to use a de-humidification system to reduce the growth of mold. You can also hire technicians to clean your ductwork regularly to protect against excessive replacement needs. Keeping your ventilation system's filter clean is a simple task you can do to monitor the cleanliness or your air duct system.
