Not to be confused with ducks or seals (the animal), duct sealing is a way to improve the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) in homes and buildings. It’s a process of sealing visible and invisible air leaks in air duct systems.
Why Duct Sealing Matters
Short answer: Duct sealing makes homes and buildings more comfortable, saves energy, and improves indoor air quality (IAQ).
To fully understand why duct sealing matters, it’s important to understand the purpose of air ducts
To fully understand why duct sealing matters, it’s important to understand the purpose of air ducts. Nearly every home and building has ductwork that’s used to transport conditioned air from a central air conditioning unit or forced air furnace to desired rooms and spaces in a home or building.
Sealing ductwork improves airflow between the HVAC equipment and the desired room/space they are wanting to either heat or cool. If ductwork is not properly sealed, then conditioned air actually leaks through visible and invisible holes that naturally in ductwork. This phenomenon is called DUCT LEAKAGE (it’s not a good thing).
Why Duct Leakage is Bad
Not many people know about duct leakage, and that’s not good. Duct leakage causes significant issues for homeowners and building owners.
Here are some common problems associated with duct leakage in homes and buildings:
- High summer and winter utility/energy bills
- Uncomfortable/uneven room temperatures (e.g., hot/cold spots)
- Stuffy rooms or humidity issues
- Excessive dust or allergies of occupants
- Compliance issues with meeting certain codes or regulations for ductwork design, installation, and maintenance
How to Fix Duct Leakage
Call the local Aeroseal/HVAC contractor to assess the ductwork. There are special tests that can be performed to check if duct leakage is present and contributing to poor HVAC performance in the home or building.