PATCH LEAKS IN HVAC DUCTS TO SAVE ENERGY
Want to lower your heating and cooling bills and improve indoor air comfort? Installing a smart thermostat and changing filters can help, but there may be a hidden problem affecting your HVAC system: loose ductwork.
Your home is lined with hidden ducts that travel from your furnace to your registers, delivering the heated or cooled air that provides climate comfort. But these connected ducts can come loose, separated, or damaged, resulting in air leakage throughout the system as well as the growth of bacteria, mold, mildew and contamination in and around the ducts.
“Another great reason to seal your ducts is that leaky ducts can cause your HVAC system to work harder, leading to premature failure of your furnace and air conditioning units,” says Jake Brandon, an HVAC-certified expert in Phoenix.
Duct sealing is best left to a professional, as this job is difficult and possibly dangerous to perform by a DIYer.
“Anyone can attempt to seal their ducts themselves, but it’s a very dirty process, and there are many safety hazards involved, such as getting stuck in confined spaces and stepping through your ceiling,” cautions Brandon. “For minor repairs in an easy-to-reach area, a homeowner could attempt to fix a duct leak themselves, but otherwise a trained HVAC expert should be called in.”
A professional will likely first conduct a duct test, such as a blower door test, which can indicate where leaks may be occurring and what percentage of air is being lost. Then, they can attempt to seal any loose or leaky ducts.
Common materials used in this job include special tapes called mastics, silicone-based caulk and spray-on foam (used to fill significant gaps around ducts).
“Expect to pay a professional between $1,200 and $2,000 for this project, on average. But the benefits are worth it, as sealing ducts can save homeowners up to 15% on their energy bills,” Ray Charles, an HVAC professional in Michigan, notes. “If your home is very leaky, you may even notice 30% savings on energy costs.”
Duct sealing typically takes between two to four hours for a professional to complete, and eight hours (or more) if you do it yourself.
Additionally, count on repeating this process every 5 to 10 years, as mastic tape and other materials can weaken over time, leading to a repeat of your air leakage problem.