
Let’s discuss the three best options in more detail. There are a variety of air duct sealing techniques you can use to achieve these benefits. By sealing the ductwork, homes use less energy to cool or heat, which lowers their overall carbon footprint and reduces the amount of air pollution generated. Most cities use energy by burning fossil fuels, which can contribute to climate change, acid rain, and smog. As a result, the system runs more cycles and operates more frequently, leading to more wear and tear and frequent replacements. Improved HVAC EfficiencyĪs mentioned, the loss of energy can cause your HVAC system to work harder to maintain the desired temperature. You won’t have to replace the air filter as frequently because there is less work to do. If someone in your family has allergies or asthma, sealing the duct system can help reduce their symptoms and improve health.Īs mentioned earlier, you can further improve indoor air quality with the help of an air filter. Moreover, your duct system will also require frequent duct cleaning to remove the contaminants. Leaks in the ductwork allow polluted air inside the system, increasing pollutants inside the home, including dust, dirt, and other particles that will diminish air quality. The conservation of energy and lower utility bills are two significant benefits of sealing air ducts. Leaks in the air duct will allow cooled or heated air to escape before it reaches the desired living spaces in the home.Įxperts believe that about 20 to 30 percent of the HVAC utility costs result because of duct leaks, which is money that adds up to a significant chunk of change over several months.īecause the desired room hasn’t achieved the target temperature, the HVAC system works harder and expends more resources to replace the air, resulting in more energy usage and significantly skyrocketing your utility bill. Sealing the ductwork will prevent polluted air from entering your air supply. The return air duct will indiscriminately suck all the air in. Keeping Dirty Air OutĪnother important fact is that air duct sealing keeps the dirty air and dust out. However, over time, these small leaks can add up to the amount of air you need to heat or cool your desired room. This leaked air usually travels to an area of the house that isn’t needed, such as the basement or attic. That is a considerable amount of leakage. Some people argue that the air leaking from the duct is still in your house, so the energy isn’t really lost.īut here’s what they’re not considering: If you were to quantify the leakage from typical air ducts, you’ll find that a large majority of homes lose the same amount of air as cutting a basketball-sized hole in the duct. Preventing the Loss of Cooled or Heated Air So, beyond improved airflow efficiency, why bother sealing ducts in the first place? Air duct sealing offers a multitude of added benefits. To keep this from happening, you have to seal your air ducts. In the same vein, leaky air ducts can cause a significant burden on your HVAC system. Do this long enough, and your respiratory system will cave in.

The human equivalent for this would be breathing through a straw while running. Leaks undo all the work of your HVAC system, the cooling or heating process starts all over again, and you receive a hefty energy bill at the end of the month. It takes more time, resources, and effort to cool or heat a house with poorly-sealed air ducts. Leakages are a common problem in many homes it is reported that poorly-sealed duct systems lose about 40 percent of heating or cooling energy. Method 1: Good Ol’ Duct Tape (Temporary Fix Only!).Preventing the Loss of Cooled or Heated Air.Additional Benefits of Sealing Air Ducts.Building Science and Home Performance Expand.
