The air ducts that act as a path from the air conditioning system to your living area are so important to your home comfort. Of course, without them, cool air would be unable to distribute to each of the rooms. But even a small issue within the ductwork can make a huge difference in your comfort.
Duct Leaks Are More Troublesome than You Think
When even a small amount of air leaks out of a duct, your air conditioner is not able to do its job as it was designed. Your air conditioner was sized precisely when it was first installed to cool a specific amount of space. A leaky air duct increases the amount of space the AC must cool, which can decrease efficiency. The air conditioner must work a little bit harder, and some of the parts may even become overworked, leading to performance issues.
Actually, duct leaks are more common than you might suspect. You may assume your ducts are sound, but the EPA estimates that most people have duct leaks that can account for up to a 30% loss of air. You pay to cool unoccupied spaces (an attic, for example) and you don’t even get to take advantage of the cool air that your air conditioner provides.
Duct Sealing Is a Difficult Job
Duct tape is not really not sufficient for sealing leaks, but a duct sealing specialist has an array of tools and sealants that will see to it that the job is done right. The mastic and other materials your specialist uses will make it so that air travels directly to the rooms in your home rather than leaking into a crawlspace. Call your local HVAC technician today.
ACI Northwest is here to help in your home comfort needs or concerns in Coeur d’Alene, ID. Please do not hesitate to contact us for helpful advice.