Air duct leaks are an annoying but common problem you have to face as part of maintaining your home’s HVAC system. How will you know you’re dealing with air leaks? A spike in energy bills, strange odors, and the appearance of dirty spots on the painted ceiling are just a few signs that you’re dealing with leaky air. However, there are sealing techniques to prevent air leaks that can be used by professionals to keep this from happening again.
What Causes Leaky Air?
Before you can start exploring some sealing techniques to prevent air leaks, it’s important to identify them and know what causes them in the first place. As explained earlier, dirty spots on a painted ceiling are signs of air duct leakage affecting your interior walls. Aside from strange odors and higher energy bills, a sudden increase in dust and your home struggling to maintain proper temperature levels are also indicators of air leaks.
But what about the causes of air leaks? The most common cause is usually the age of the ductwork. In other words, you’re air ducts are nearing the end of their lifespan and need replacing. Poor installation and rodent infestations can also increase the chances of leaky air ducts. Finally, poorly fastened or secured ductwork, as well as broken or damaged sealing, also lead to leaks.
4 Sealing Techniques To Prevent Air Leaks
For today’s purposes, you will learn about sealing techniques to prevent air leaks resulting from poorly secured ductwork and/or damaged sealing. After the HVAC technician inspects your air ducts, they will be able to determine which of the following sealing techniques to prevent air leaks is most appropriate:
1. Aluminum Foil Tape
The simplest means of preventing air leaks is to apply aluminum foil tape to your air ducts. This sealant can be applied for very minor leaks. Make sure you obtain durable, high-quality foil tape that will be able to properly keep air from leaking. If the leak is more severe, you should use aluminum foil tape in combination with the next sealing method.
2. Duct Mastic
One of the main go-to sealing techniques to prevent air leaks is to apply duct mastic. For serious air leaks, duct mastic should be applied over aluminum foil tape to ensure it remains absolutely secure and effective. You will need a paintbrush to apply it at the leak points and especially the elbow joints of the ductwork.
3. Insulation
Getting your air ducts insulated from the start is one of the most reliable sealing techniques to prevent air leaks. While you can potentially install it yourself, the best results will most likely come from hiring a professional. That way, you can avoid making serious errors that will lead to leaks surpassing the insulation.
4. Liquid Rubber Sealant
Finally, if you need to have your air ducts sealed from the inside, a professional will use liquid rubber sealant. This technique is highly advanced and should only be used by professionals, as it involves using specific technology to assess how much sealant needs to be sprayed to sufficiently seal the leaks.
Fresh Air Duct Cleaning Will Seal Your Air Leaks!
Thanks to this blog, you are now familiar with four sealing techniques to prevent air leaks in your ductwork. Any of these methods will surely keep your air ducts in proper working condition in the future. Now, you just need to find the right HVAC service provider to address your leaky ducts and seal them properly. If you happen to live in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, our team at Fresh Air Duct Cleaning will be able to seal your duct leaks at your earliest convenience, so contact us today.