Ductwork is an essential part of any forced-air heating and cooling system, and it works to circulate the heated and cooled air throughout the entire building. As ducts age, they become more prone to developing leaks or becoming loose, and this can lead to much of the conditioned air escaping instead of being directed to every room in the home. This forces your furnace and air conditioner to work overtime and can lead to high energy bills, frequent repair needs and a shortened life span for your HVAC units. Leaky ducts can also make it so that some parts of your home always feel too warm in the summer and too cold in the winter. Having your ducts professionally sealed can quickly overcome all of these issues, and here is everything you need to know about how it is done and the benefits it can provide.
How Does Duct Sealing Work?
Air duct sealing essentially involves using specially designed duct tape and other materials to make sure that the entire duct system is free from any air leaks or damage. The connections between the different pieces of ductwork are usually the most prone to leaking and thus have the biggest need for resealing.
At Thermo Direct, we always start by removing all of the old tape and sealing. From there, we will then completely reseal all of the joints and connections to ensure that they are perfectly tight and don’t have any gaps or holes where air could leak out. We will also make sure that the ducts are fully secured to the ceiling, floor or wall to ensure that they cannot come loose and cause the ductwork to leak.
We also inspect every inch of the ductwork to ensure that there is no damage that needs to be repaired or holes that need to be patched. If any of the sections are damaged or not in great shape, we can also repair or replace them. Now that you know how air duct sealing works, here are some of the benefits that it will provide.
Lower Heating and Cooling Costs
One of the biggest benefits of air duct sealing is that it can help you save quite a bit of money on your yearly heating and cooling costs. According to the EPA, leaky ductwork is one of the single biggest sources of energy waste in the average home and can potentially increase your energy costs by as much as 30%. Duct leaks are also a problem that affects the vast majority of houses.
Ductwork typically has a maximum life span of 25 to 30 years. As they age, they will often begin to degrade and develop small holes. The vibration from your HVAC system can also cause the ducts to pull loose and start to sag, and this can cause huge leaks to develop at all of the joints. Sealing the ducts will overcome these issues and ensure that all of the hot air from your furnace and the cold air from your AC goes where it is needed instead of leaking out. This can drastically reduce how often your HVAC system runs and how much energy it uses and has the potential to save you up to a few hundred dollars a year on your heating and cooling costs.
Less Frequent Repair Needs and Longer HVAC Life Span
If your ducts are leaking, your furnace and air conditioner will need to work harder and run much longer to effectively heat and cool your home. This not only leads to higher energy costs but also puts added strain on the entire HVAC system and will lead to much greater wear and tear on the furnace, AC and HVAC blower. As a result, the equipment is likely to break down and need repairs more frequently. The more that your HVAC system runs, the shorter its life span will be as well. By sealing your ducts and eliminating any air leaks, you should be able to reduce your need for HVAC repairs and extend the life span of your heating and cooling equipment.
More Consistent Temperatures and Better Home Comfort
One of the biggest issues with leaking or poorly sealed ductwork is that it makes it much more difficult for your HVAC system to properly circulate air throughout the entire building. This issue usually isn’t all that noticeable in the areas of the home that are closest to the furnace and air handler. However, it often leads to those areas at the farthest ends of the duct system never receiving enough air and always staying hotter or colder. Duct sealing can help you overcome issues with hot and cold spots in different parts of the building and will ensure that the temperature stays much more consistent throughout the entire home.
Leaky ductwork in the attic, basement or crawl space can create even bigger issues. If the ducts in your attic leak, it can allow much of the cold air from your AC to escape out of the attic instead of being circulated throughout the home. It also allows all of the hot air in the attic to get inside the ductwork, and this can quickly raise the temperature to the point where your cooling system can never keep up. If the ducts in your basement or crawl space leak, it can create the opposite problems during the winter since these areas are usually much colder. The only way to prevent these problems is to make sure that all of your ducts are properly sealed and well-insulated.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
Duct sealing is also one of the easiest ways to improve your home’s indoor air quality. Any leaks or holes will allow dust, pollen and other allergens to get inside the ductwork. These allergens will then be circulated throughout the rest of the building whenever your heating or cooling system runs. This will not only worsen the air quality in the entire home, but all of that dust and debris also has the potential to cause serious damage to your HVAC equipment.
Leaking ductwork can also allow condensation to form inside the ducts. When this happens, it can lead to mold and mildew beginning to grow inside the ductwork system, and the only way to overcome this problem is to have your ducts professionally cleaned. Air duct sealing should help prevent mold and other allergens from being a major issue so that you can breathe more easily.
Professional Air Duct Sealing and HVAC Services
At Thermo Direct, we offer professional duct sealing services as well as duct repairs and installation for customers throughout the Raleigh area. Our certified HVAC technicians also specialize in cooling and heating installation, repairs and maintenance, and we work on furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, mini-splits and heat pumps. In addition, we install humidifiers, dehumidifiers and other indoor air quality equipment, and our team also specializes in weatherization, crawl space sealing and insulation.
If you need any electrical repairs or installation, our licensed electricians can help with that as well. We install and repair generators, circuit breakers, lighting, ceiling fans, whole-home surge protectors and other electrical equipment. For more information on the benefits of duct sealing or to schedule an appointment to have your ducts sealed, give us a call today.
