The performance of central air conditioners, heat pumps and forced air furnace depends on the duct system fabricated and installed in the field that carries its heated or cooled air. If the duct system is not designed and installed properly, your heating and air conditioning system will not work properly.
To maintain comfort and good indoor air quality, the air being supplied to each room must balance with the air returning to the cooling and heating equipment. If the correct amount of air at the correct temperature is not delivered through the duct, the indoor space will have hot and cold spots, stagnate uncirculated air, or even stratified zones of noticeably different temperatures.
It’s common for a duct system to lose 20-30 percent of its air through loose connections and even holes. When the duct system is in an unconditioned space like a crawlspace or attic, significant issues are the result. Duct leakage can cause an unbalanced system that wastes energy and causes significant comfort issues. Sealing your ducts improves your system’s ability to consistently cool and heat every room.
Replacing or repairing undersized, under-insulated, and leaky ducts is a major factor in allowing HVAC equipment to be sized correctly and will have a big effect on increased comfort at lower utility costs.
In addition to duct leakage, a significant and common issue is duct work not being insulated well enough. This is a major source of inefficiency and wasted energy cost.
We also are equipped to add insulation into attics. This along with energy-efficient windows is the single most important improvement to achieve greater comfort and reduced energy costs.
Our procedure includes:
Identify any leaks with diagnostic equipment.
Insulate your ducts where it counts with 3-inch thick R-8 insulation to keep the air at its desired temperature as it moves through the system.
Seal your ducts with mastic, metal-backed tape, or duct sealant. Duct tape should not be used; it can not withstand high temperatures and will not last.
Test airflow after ducts are sealed.
Conduct a combustion safety test after ducts are sealed to be sure all gas or oil-burning appliances are working properly.