Seal Those Ductwork Leaks — It’s About More Than Efficiency

Seal Those Ductwork Leaks — It’s About More Than Efficiency

Sealing the ductwork in your heating or cooling system is commonly recommended as a way to increase the system’s efficiency and to improve your home’s indoor comfort. It’s good advice; ductwork leaks let air you’ve already paid to heat or cool just drift away on the wind. By properly sealing the ductwork, you can make your HVAC system as much as 20 percent more efficient.

Ductwork sealing has benefits beyond savings and efficiency, however. Ductwork leaks can also pose a danger to your family during the winter. When your heating system burns fuel to generate heat, it produces the deadly gas carbon monoxide as a by-product of combustion. This substance is usually vented out of your home through the ductwork and ventilation system. If the ductwork is not well sealed, however, this gas can leak into your home, creating the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The dangers of carbon monoxide cannot be overstressed. It is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas – in all ways invisible to humans. However, its effects are very real and very hazardous. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include nausea, dizziness, disorientation, blurred vision, and flu-like symptoms. In serious cases, carbon monoxide can kill. Most carbon monoxide deaths occur when people are exposed to it in their sleep.

Sealing your ductwork will reduce the possibility of dangerous carbon monoxide leaks. Check for and seal cracks, holes, or gaps in the ductwork system. Make certain ductwork segments fit together tightly, especially at elbows and joints. Ensure ducts are properly connected to vents and registers throughout your home. Seal connections with mastic, a sealing compound specially made for use on ducts, or metal tape. Common duct tape is not recommended because the adhesive can dry out over time, causing the seal to fail.

Since 1969, Air-Tro Inc. has provided design, installation, repair and maintenance to customers in the greater Los Angeles area, including L.A. and Orange Counties, Riverside metro and San Bernardino County. Contact us todayfor answers to your questions about saving energy through duct sealing, and for more information on how stopping ductwork leaks can keep your family comfortable and safe.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about ductwork leaks and other HVAC topics, visit our website.

Air-Tro Inc. services the greater Los Angeles area as well as the metro areas of Riverside and San Bernardino County.