Sealing air ducts is an important step in making your home more energy efficient. It helps to reduce energy consumption, improve air quality, and balance the temperature of your home. But how should ductwork be sealed against air leaks? Start by sealing air leaks with putty sealant or metallic tape and isolate any ducts you can access (such as those in attics, mezzanines, unfinished basements, and garages). Never use adhesive tape, as it doesn't last long.
You can apply high-quality adhesive tape (the old-fashioned way), putty, or Aeroseal sealant for better results. Each method has its pros and cons, so let's take an in-depth look at what technique you can use and why. Apply a layer of silicone putty along both edges of the duct joint. Seal round ducts with aluminum foil tape, not duct tape.
Despite its name, it's not approved for sealing ducts and doesn't hold up well in the long term. Either way, having your ducts properly sealed will help you balance your home's air temperature and improve air quality. It won't be long before the adhesive tape falls off or, even worse, reaches the air ducts, and condensation caused by temperature fluctuations will weaken the tape and cause it to break. Duct leaks allow contaminated air to enter the system, increasing pollutants inside the house, including dust, dirt, and other particles that decrease air quality. Buy UL181 aluminum tape for high temperatures in the duct section of a home appliance and use it to seal the joints of round ducts.
The ducts distribute heat and air conditioning to the different rooms in the house and, often, these ducts have holes in their connections, allowing the air conditioner to escape before reaching the intended room. Some people argue that the air that is filtered through the duct is still in the house, so energy is not actually lost. If someone in your family has allergies or asthma, sealing the duct system can help reduce their symptoms and improve their health. The air ducts work by providing convenient ways for the air conditioner from the air conditioning equipment to flow to the desired rooms. Sealing air ducts by yourself saves you money, but it can be a challenge for beginners, especially if you're trying to get into hard-to-reach areas or when there are leaks hidden behind drywall. You can further improve indoor air quality with an air filter, which you won't have to change very often because there won't be as much dust or dirt to clean.
Butyl adhesive tape and oriented polypropylene (OPP) tape are good options because they can seal duct joints surprisingly well and offer a high level of durability. It's fascinating to discuss how sealing air ducts can help reduce your home's energy consumption. When hot or cold air comes out of the ducts, especially in the basement and attic, the boiler or air conditioner has to run longer (and consume more fuel) for the living room in the house to reach the temperature indicated on the thermostat. Most homeowners don't think about sealing their home's air ducts, but it is a crucial process for maintaining energy efficiency. Sealing your home's HVAC system offers a multitude of benefits beyond improving airflow efficiency. It helps reduce energy consumption by preventing conditioned air from escaping through cracks or holes in your home's HVAC system; it also helps improve indoor air quality by preventing pollutants from entering your home through these same cracks or holes.
Additionally, sealing your home's HVAC system helps maintain a consistent temperature throughout your home by preventing hot or cold spots from forming due to uneven airflow. Sealing your home's HVAC system is a relatively simple process that can be done by most homeowners with minimal effort. Start by inspecting all accessible areas of your HVAC system for any visible cracks or holes that may be allowing conditioned air to escape. Once you've identified any potential problem areas, use a high-quality sealant such as silicone putty or metallic tape to seal them off. Additionally, if you have any round ducts in your HVAC system, make sure they are sealed with UL181 aluminum tape.
By taking these simple steps to seal your home's HVAC system against air leaks, you can save money on energy bills while also improving indoor air quality and maintaining a consistent temperature throughout your home. So don't wait - start sealing those air leaks today!.
