When homeowners think about HVAC maintenance, it’s usually the obvious things like changing the air filter or cleaning your main appliances. The ductwork on the other hand, is out of sight for the most part and often neglected. Ducts can develop serious air leaks which will cost you both money and comfort.
Air Leaks and Your Ducts
All of the separate ducts in your ductwork are sealed together. As they age, this seal gets weaker and leaks can begin to develop. This has a few serious consequences:
Air quality: When treated air gets out, untreated air gets into your ducts and circulated around your home. This is bad for your health and can also lead to mold in your ducts.
Wear and tear: Since your HVAC system has to keep heating or cooling air to make up for lost air, it has to run more often and will be more prone to breaking down. It’s lifespan will also be shortened.
Comfort: When you turn on the heat in your home, it’s to make it more comfortable. If you're leaking air, it will take a long time to reach your desired temperature.
Finding Leaks and Duct Sealing
You need to identify and fix air leaks before they become large issues. This is easier said than done, because other than in attics and crawl spaces, it is usually hard to inspect. You might find that you are unable to inspect for leaks yourself and may have to call in an HVAC professional.
If a professional also has a tough time inspecting your ducts and suspects you may have airflow issues, he will conduct a duct blower test. This test will help pinpoint the location of leaks as well as the severity.
Once a leak is found, it needs to be patched up. You can use metal tape to cover a small leak or mastic sealant. If it’s a big leak however, or your ducts seem deteriorated, your professional may recommend replacing the ductwork.
To get help with duct sealing in your Broken Arrow home, please contact Air Assurance.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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