Duct Tape Has Many Uses – Taping Ducts Isn’t One of Them!

Duct Tape Has Many Uses – Taping Ducts Isn’t One of Them!

Why We Use Mastic, Not Duct Tape

Facts you should know about Duct Tape:

• Duration of the UL standard Attic Duct Tape Test: 60 days
  Actual time the duct tape should last in your attic: 20 years

• Test weight used by UL in the attic Duct Tape Test: 9.5 pounds
  Actual weight of standard 12” dia. Length of duct: 13 pounds

• First year UL published a standard for Duct Tape: 1996
  Percent of home ductwork in LA County that complies: 2.8%

• Acceptable total leak area in properly installed ducts: 10 in²
  Average leak area of typical tape-sealed ductwork: 43 in²
  Typical system efficiency loss with 43 in² of leaks: 22%

• Payback time on upgrade to high efficiency units: 6.21 yrs*
  Payback time on upgrade to mastic-sealed ductwork: 2.16 yrs*

*Based on using a 4 ton system for 1000 hrs/yr, with an electric rate of 23¢/kw-hr. High efficiency unit is 16 SEER, vs. 13 SEER for standard efficiency.

Sources:
Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) Standard 181B-FX (Duct Tape)
California Energy Code (Title XXIV)
Anchor Continental AC57 Specifications
Florida Solar Energy Center Report Cr-397-91
Transamerica Metroscan Survey: Los Angeles County 1999