Ducts sweat because the outside surfaces of the ducts are below the dew point of the air in their immediate surroundings.
Condensation on ac ducts in attic.
The condensation forms when air of a different temperature meets the grill box and duct connecting the vent to the air conditioning unit.
You can install insulation on the attic side of the register boot and you can make sure that your duct is adequately insulated.
It can also feed mold growth and cause ceiling joists to rot and sheetrock to disintegrate leading to unhealthy air quality in your home and the need for costly structural repairs.
There are two main ways to solve this problem.
Condensation on air ducts can be a serious problem.
Improper or no insulation of ducts.
This type of insulation should be standard but since you have a condensation problem it s obvious that the contractor.
When the hot humid attic air contacts the cold duct or the cold duct boot the moisture in the air condenses on the cold surface just like the condensation that happens on a cold can of beer.
Over time condensation dripping from your ductwork onto attic insulation can cause it to compress which lowers its r value.
Keeping the temperature of the metal connected to the grill.
The last usual cause for condensation on a duct system is if the ducts are not properly hung or they are touching each other.
The simple physics behind sweating is.
The primary ways to stop ducts from sweating is to raise the surface temperature of the ducts or to lower the dew point of the air surrounding the duct by some form of dehumidification.
Excessive condensation can also create conditions favorable to mold or mildew forming in areas surrounding the duct itself.
When water condenses and drips into your attic or home it can cause a some serious secondary problems.
What causes condensation on ac vents.
When ductwork is touching it forms a very cold spot where they are touching thus condensation begins.
Whenever there is a contact between the hot humid air and cold metal surface then there will be sweating or condensation on the metal surface so it is very important to have a proper insulation for the air handler ducts in case the portion of the duct is coming in contact with the unconditioned air outside.
Ductwork located in an attic must be hung properly so that the insulation can do its job.