Have you looked at your ducts lately? Chances are, you most likely have not. Ducts are supposed to be installed and stay put -- forgotten. That's true. But, if your Massachusetts home has rooms that never seem to get warm or cool enough, are always stuffy or your heating and cooling bills are higher than you think they should be, it may signal a problem with your ducts.
Duct problems
Even though you rarely see them, your ducts may be causing problems. Ducts are part of a "forced-air" system, where conditioned air is forced inside your home from your heating and cooling equipment. If there are leaks in the ducts, air can be forced though those leaks. A 10 percent air loss means 10 percent higher costs. Some ducts have been found to leak as much as 30 percent or more.
Duct sealing
By stopping leaks with duct sealing, you improve airflow, reduce your energy costs and your system will distribute air more evenly. Sealing ducts should consist of these steps:
- Seal joints -- Everywhere duct joints connect must be sealed -- tightly. Mastic sealant and metal tape are available to seal ductwork. Duct tape should not be used for ducts.
- Vents and registers -- Return-air vents and registers must be tightly connected. If not, air leaks into walls, attic and floor cavities.
- Insulation -- Once all connections are properly sealed, exposed areas need insulation. In attics, crawl spaces or basements, the surrounding air "steals" away the temperature of your conditioned air, because the bare metal conducts heat quickly. Insulation must cover all areas.
Duct sealing saves money, energy, increases comfort and creates less wear on your equipment, increasing its life span. Other than installing new high-efficiency equipment, duct sealing is among the best ways to lower costs and increase the efficiency of your home-comfort system.
Check your ducts or contact the professionals at Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. We can find hidden areas where ducts may be leaking away your energy. If you do it yourself, call us with any questions you may have. Serving the Route 495/128 area, we're always happy to help you improve your home comfort and lower your energy costs.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.
Ductwork image via Shutterstock
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