Even if you are meticulous about having your heating and cooling system regularly maintained, if you have leaks in your ducts, you will have leaks in your wallet. You could even have a brand new home comfort system, but you will never achieve maximum energy efficiency with leaky ductwork.
Fortunately, fixing air leaks in ducts is a relatively simple and affordable home improvement project. In fact, you may be able to do it yourself if you have the necessary skills.
Follow these simple steps to reduce energy loss in your ducts:
- The accessible ductwork is the easiest to repair. In most houses you will find ducts in the attic, basement, crawlspace and garage. Start with these areas since they are also the most likely to have leaks.
- Don’t forget to check for tears and kinks in flexible ductwork as these can reduce efficiency and impede air flow.
- The points where air supply registers connect to the ductwork are often sources of leakage, so remember to check these areas and seal them appropriately.
- Use a duct sealant or mastic tape to seal holes along the ductwork and at connection points. Do not use duct tape, as it will not last as long and is not as effective.
- If you have ductwork in unconditioned spaces, such as the attic or crawl space, adding insulation can significantly reduce energy loss, especially during the peaks of the heating and cooling seasons.
To ensure the job is done thoroughly, contact a professional. After all, trained technicians can access and seal areas of your ductwork that you cannot.
It is also important to remember that the size and layout of your ductwork is important when upgrading to a new heating and cooling system, so be sure to discuss this with your contractor before you make a decision to purchase new equipment.
Contact the professionals at Around the Clock Air Conditioning and Heatingfor all of your home comfort needs in the Los Angeles area. Our experts will help you identify ways to reduce energy use and save money, without sacrificing comfort. Contact us today for a free estimate.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about duct sealing and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating services Los Angeles, North Hollywood and the surrounding areas in California. Visit our website to see our current specials and get started today!
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