In many cases, particularly in older homes with ductwork that’s just as old, it may benefit you to replace your ductwork when you get a new HVAC system. This helps your HVAC system work as effectively and efficiently as it’s meant to for years on end. But, your ductwork damage isn’t always that detrimental. Sometimes, the answer is instead duct sealing.
Duct sealing is a professional service we provide. Of course, you might be thinking, “why can’t I just use duct tape to seal my ducts?” Well unfortunately, duct tape is not appropriately named. It’s not really appropriate for problems with your air ducts after all! The reason for this is because it gets brittle and starts breaking off due to temperature fluctuations. Instead, you need the special mastic sealant that our professionals use. Read on to learn more!
Should You Invest in Duct Sealing?
If you want to save money, sure! When your ductwork is sealed as it should be, it will be unable to leak conditioned air out into unoccupied spaces like your attic or crawlspace. As a result, you’ll save energy and extend the life of both your cooling and heating systems.
The issue with duct leakage is that it restricts the amount of air that is designed to reach each area of your living space. When this occurs, you’ll discover uneven cooling (or heating) throughout your entire home, depending on the time of year. Rather than completely cooling or heating your home, leaks will disallow all the conditioned air from reaching you.
The Benefits of Professional Duct Sealing
One of the biggest reasons homeowners invest in professional duct sealing is for the improvement they see in their indoor air quality. There are many contaminants and allergens that can enter your indoor air through a breach in the air ducts. This can include pollen and dust, and even more harmful byproducts like household and landscaping fumes, insulation particles, and other outdoor pollution.
Safety is another benefit of duct sealing. During the everyday operation of your gas-powered appliances such as your heater in the wintertime, your clothes dryer, or your water heater, gases exit your home through your ventilation system. If you have leaky ductwork, something called backdrafting can occur, and gases can get drawn back into your home, increasing the risk of illness for you and your family.
Homeowners who are environmentally conscious often choose to have their ductwork professionally sealed. When you have your ducts sealed up, you limit the amount of energy needed to comfortably cool or heat your home, and therefore reduce the amount of air pollution that gets generated.
Lastly, a big benefit of professional duct sealing is your comfort! Properly sealing and insulating your air ducts can help with common comfort problems, like rooms that are too warm in the summer or too cold in the winter. In addition to duct sealing, another option to consider is having a zone control system installed to lower the risk of uneven cooling and heating even more.
For professional duct sealing in Chicago, IL, reach out to Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning today!