Here's How You Can Seal Your Ducts And Prevent Costly Air Leaks

Your HVAC system will only work as well as your duct system allows, so it’s important to make sure your ducts are properly sealed and not causing you to lose out to air leaks. Duct sealing strategies can help you stay warm all winter long while helping your heating system operate as efficiently as possible. While much of your ductwork is inaccessible because it is in the walls or flooring of your house, there are still plenty of opportunities for you to improve on the ducts you can reach in your garage, basement or attic. Begin by looking for obviously loose connections between individual ducts. Secure the straps that join the two pieces so air isn’t able to easily leak out. While duct tape isn’t strong enough to hold for long, there are other materials you can use to strengthen these connections. Duct mastic, butyl tape and foil tape are all examples of materials that won’t start to peel off, as duct tape does after being exposed to warm air passing within the ducts.Next you should look for holes in the ducts. Some of these will be obvious and others will require a bit more attention. While the system is on, run your hands along your ducts to feel for air jetting out. Duct mastic is excellent for covering these holes; it is a putty-like material that is spread over the ducts with a trowel. The mastic then hardens and prevents air from escaping.Insulation on your ducts can also help to keep your warm air from transferring out of the ducts as it travels through unconditioned spaces. This can help you save a significant amount of money in the long run.The average home loses more than 35 percent of its conditioned air before it ever reaches the register because of duct leaks. This means that your air system is working much harder than it should to provide comfort to your home. And local utility companies now have programs that will pay for portions of the cost!  For professional assistance with duct sealing and insulation, contact the experts at Air Assurancetoday. We proudly serve the Tulsa and Broken Arrow areas.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!