Most people do not give their ductwork a second thought, but if it was improperly installed, improperly sealed or lacks adequate insulation, it can increase energy costs by up to 40 percent, while decreasing the life of the HVAC unit. Over time, ductwork can become damaged by rodents or by people who are working around it, and it may be leaking air. Leaking air can cost you money and even impact your health.

Leaking ducts

Leaking ductwork poses several problems for homeowners.

• Not only do leaks cost money in higher energy bills, but they can affect indoor air quality.
• Dust, bacteria and other pollutants not only mean cleaning more often, but household members, especially those with asthma, may have adverse reactions to these contaminants.

Dealing with leaking ducts

When your ductwork is leaking, you generally have two choices for how to proceed: repair it or replace it.

If your ducts are over 10 years old, it may be time to consider replacing them with newer ones that will be better insulated. Modern ductwork will generally leak no more than six percent, which is far less than the approximate 35 percent leakage of ducts in homes built over 30 years ago.

If the cost of new ductwork is too high, the next best thing is to repair leaks and add insulation to your existing duct system. The most important ducts to seal and insulate are those found in unconditioned areas of the home, like the basement, garage, crawlspace or attic. You should also seal all the connections and seams with metal-backed tape or mastic. In addition, it is important to check the registers, the filter housing and any places where the ducts have become compressed and the air flow is diminished.

After everything is properly sealed, you will want to add insulation. Insulation made for ducts will have a backing on it that needs to be on the outside. Do not mash the insulation as that will decrease its effectiveness. When finished, use tape to secure the seams using mastic or foil tape.

If you need help with leaky ductwork in your East Texas home, contact Ben Maines. We’re here to help.

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.

Ben Maines Air Conditioning services the Greater East Texas area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!      

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