What do you think is the number one most common killer of an energy efficient air conditioning system? The thermostat? The SEER? The age of the air conditioning unit? It’s the ductwork! Ductwork that is improperly sized or sealed can reduce your air conditioner’s efficiency by as much as 30%, no matter how efficient your air conditioner is. Fortunately, ductwork sealing is a pretty easy task – and one that can potentially save you hundreds on your energy bill!
When should you get ductwork sealing?
Since your ducts are usually hidden behind your walls, it’s not like you can just look at them and see any leaks. But there are a few clues to look for to help you determine if your ductwork needs to be sealed.
• Your HVAC costs are much higher than they should be
• You have uneven cooling in your home, especially in rooms that are farther from the air conditioning unit
• Some rooms feel stuffy or muggy like they aren’t getting sufficient air flow
What are the benefits of ductwork sealing?
Ductwork sealing comes with a number of benefits that extend beyond money and energy savings. Some other benefits of ductwork sealing include:
Ductwork sealing makes your home more comfortable – leaking ductwork can create pockets of cold or hot air in your home, causing some rooms to just never be comfortable. This is especially true if you have rooms in your home that are farther away from your HVAC system. Ductwork sealing brings more air to all the rooms in your house, keeping the temperatures even and your home more comfortable.
Ductwork sealing improves energy savings – like we said above, air that escapes from leaking ductwork can reduce your HVAC system’s efficiency by as much as 30%! Ductwork sealing will eliminate these energy losses and lower your energy bills, sometimes even allowing you to downsize your HVAC system to a smaller, more efficient system.
Ductwork sealing improves safety – every gas-burning appliance in your home releases dangerous combustion gases, including carbon monoxide. Normally these are vented outside where they pose no danger to you. However, if you have leaking ductwork in your home, these harmful gases can be backdrafted into your main living areas, where they can cause serious harm to your family. Having your ducts properly sealed can reduce or eliminate the risk of backdrafting, keeping your home safe from carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases.
Ductwork sealing improves indoor air quality – ductwork sealing does more than just help keep temperatures under control – it can also improve your indoor air quality by keeping unwanted contaminants out of the ducts! If your air return ducts are leaky, air can be sucked back into the return ducts – along with dust, dirt, mold, bacteria and all kinds of other things that can bypass your filter and get into your house. This is especially beneficial for people in your family who suffer from asthma or allergies.