The Home's Ductwork: How Those Leaks Are Costing You Money and Compromising Your Air Quality

496444593 (2)Homeowners with forced-air HVAC systems should be aware that ductwork leaks can produce high energy bills and compromised indoor air quality. Ducts are known to leak at any stage during their useful life of a home and are usually hidden from view. The breaches in ducts can send dirt and noxious gases into the home, along with raising energy bills.

Leaking ductwork increases the amount you spend on energy bills because it sends heated or cooled air into places that don’t need it. If your energy bills have increased, or you find that some rooms aren’t quite comfortable, suspect ductwork problems. Another indicator is a dust buildup near the registers.

Because most ducts run through the attic, basement ceiling and walls, it can be hard to detect problems. The best step is to first contact your HVAC professional who can test them with special equipment that determines where they are and the major extent of the leakage.

If your ductwork is accessible, look at the joints between the registers to confirm that they’re tight. Another area for common leaks is the connection between the branches of the ductwork in your home. If you find rips or holes, or loose connections, seal them with mastic, which is a type of adhesive HVAC professionals use to fix ductwork leaks. You can also use sticky metal tape, but you should never use duct tape, since its adhesive won’t last long.

To learn more about ductwork leaks and mitigating the energy losses and reduced air quality in your home, contact Airco Mechanical.

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