Few home improvement projects offer as many benefits as duct sealing does. Leaking ducts cause high energy bills, poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and may even pose health risks. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that the typical home may lose from 20 to 30 percent of its conditioned air due to ductwork problems, chief among which is leakage.

Cuts Energy Costs

When ducts run through unconditioned spaces and they leak, that air you’ve paid to condition enters the attic, crawl space, or basement, where it’s wasted. It will cost more to heat and cool your home depending on the size and extent of the leakage. A sudden increase in heating costs can indicate a ductwork problem, and costs will remain high until the duct is sealed.

If the leak is in the return ductwork, problems with your HVAC system could develop, since it relies on a specific amount of air flowing into it for the best energy efficiency. Low airflow in a gas furnace can even trigger a safety switch that turns the system off until it cools down.

Improves Air Quality

If someone in your home suffers from allergies or asthma, consider duct sealing to alleviate their symptoms. A leak can pull particulates into the air from the areas through which it runs that might include dust, insulation particles, or mold.

Health Considerations

If you use any vented gas appliances, leaking ductwork can pull carbon monoxide (CO) into your home’s air by backdrafting the gas into the ducts. Although CO is lethal for all everyone, CO is especially damaging at lower levels for infants, pregnant women, and people with heart or respiratory problems.

Comfort Factors

Sealing the ductwork solves problems associated with uncomfortable rooms that don’t receive their full allotment of conditioned air because of leakage. A room whose air seems stale or stuffy might have a leak in the duct supplying the conditioned air.

Duct sealing cuts energy costs and improves the health and comfort of your home. To learn if your ductwork needs attention, contact Powers Heating & Air, providing trusted HVAC services for Peachtree City homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.

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