Micaela Anguiano
Owner and duct designer
Ducts in San Antonio attics
Cleaning won’t fix a leaking duct. A test will find it.
In a San Antonio attic, summer heat works on every foot of duct. We test the system for leaks first, tell you plainly whether cleaning would help, and write down what we found before any work starts.
What are you seeing?
Duct cleaning, plainly
What duct cleaning can and can’t do
We follow the EPA’s guidance on duct cleaning. This is the short version.
| Cleaning can’t | Cleaning can | |
|---|---|---|
| Visible mold | Cleaning can’tSave wet, lined or flexible duct; that gets replaced | Cleaning canBe worth doing on hard duct surfaces, once the moisture is fixed |
| Pests | Cleaning can’tKeep them out; sealing the openings does that | Cleaning canClear nests and droppings from a duct they used |
| Dust | Cleaning can’tStop the house from getting dusty again | Cleaning canRemove heavy buildup, like drywall dust after a remodel |
| Health and bills | Cleaning can’tPromise fewer allergies or a lower bill; the EPA has found no proof of either | Cleaning canTake out dirt you can see, and show you before and after |
The sealing test
How we find out if your ducts leak
One measurement answers it, and you get the reading in writing.
- 01
Step 1: Close off the registers
Every supply and return opening is covered, so the only way out for air is a leak.
- 02
Step 2: Pressurize the ducts
A calibrated fan pushes air in to a standard test pressure, 25 pascals.
- 03
Step 3: Read the leakage
The fan’s gauge shows how much air escapes, in cubic feet per minute. It goes in your report.
- 04
Step 4: Seal, then test again
We find the leaks, seal them with mastic, and read the number again.
New and replacement ducts
Ducts are a design problem before they’re a repair
Air needs a way in and a way out. With too few returns, a run that’s too long or a trunk that’s too small, no amount of sealing makes a room comfortable. For a new system or a replacement, we size the ducts to the load calculation, lay them out, then test them.
Supply and return sized to the system
Runs kept short, straight and supported
Attic ducts sealed at every joint, then insulated
What we do
Six jobs, all on the ducts
Leakage test and inspection
A pressure test, a look at every duct we can reach and a written report.
Duct sealing
Mastic or rated foil tape at every joint, boot and plenum seam we can reach.
Insulation for attic ducts
New wrap where it has slipped, torn or flattened.
Replacement and design
New runs sized to the load, with enough return air.
Cleaning, when it’s warranted
Only for the cases the EPA lists, and we show you first.
Airflow and balancing
We measure each register and adjust so rooms get what they need.
Who comes to your house
The people who go up in your attic
Fabian Garibay
Crew lead, sealing and insulation
Gabriella Orellana
Estimator, home visits
Lawrence Hastings
Test technician
Angelique Minter
Installer, duct replacement
Jody Winters
Office and scheduling
Customers
After the test
“They put a gauge on the system and showed me the number before and after. The back bedroom finally holds its temperature.”
Herlinda S.Monte Vista
“I called about cleaning. Gabriella explained why mine wasn’t needed and tested the ducts instead. Two leaks at the plenum.”
Lucio V.Kirby
“Lawrence and Fabian wore shoe covers and left the attic as tidy as they found it. The report was easy to follow.”
Traci G.Garden Ridge
Sample reviews.
Service area
Where our crews go
San Antonio neighborhoods and the towns around them.
San Antonio
- Monte Vista
- Tobin Hill
- Beacon Hill
- Southtown
- Stone Oak
- Medical Center
- Westover Hills
- Thousand Oaks
Bexar County
- Kirby
- Balcones Heights
- Hill Country Village
- Elmendorf
- Von Ormy
Comal County
- Bulverde
- Spring Branch
- Garden Ridge
We don’t take jobs in Austin, Laredo or the Rio Grande Valley.
Questions we get before a duct check
Should I have my ducts cleaned?
Probably not. The EPA says routine cleaning isn’t needed. It makes sense when you can see mold growing on hard duct surfaces, when pests have used the ducts, or when dust and debris are blowing out of the registers. We look first and show you what we find.
How do I know if my ducts leak?
A duct leakage test measures it. We seal the registers, pressurize the ducts with a calibrated fan and read how much air escapes. Signs you can see yourself: rooms that stay warm, dust streaks at joints, or an attic that feels cooler near the ducts.
Will sealing lower my electric bill?
It can, because leaks let cooled air escape into the attic. We can’t promise a number: it depends on how bad the leaks are, the attic and the system. We read the leakage before and after, so you see what changed.
Do you seal with duct tape?
No. Cloth duct tape dries out and lets go in a hot attic. We seal joints with mastic or with foil tape rated for ducts.
What does a duct check cost?
It depends on the home, so we write the price after the visit and before any work starts. The quote says what it covers and what it doesn’t. How pricing works has the details.
Does anyone speak Spanish?
Fabian Garibay and Gabriella Orellana do. Tell us when you call and one of them will take your visit.
Book a duct check
Tell us what you’re seeing. We’ll suggest a time for the test and the attic visit.
Phone(210) 555-0102
Hours
- Monday – FridayToday
- 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- SaturdayToday
- 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- SundayToday
- Closed