Sealing and Insulating Heating and Cooling Ducts in the House to Increase Efficiency

Air leaks in your attic and basement can definitely drive up home heating costs if left unattended. This informative article provides some do-it-yourself tips on how best to seal and insulate heating and cooling ducts.

One of the very energy efficient ways to make your house feel convenient is by sealing and insulating your duct system.

When it comes to comfort, leaky air affects us most through the winter. While drafty doors and windows contribute to the issue, most important air leaks in homes come from attics and basements.

If reducing your winter heating bill is a top priority, then leaving basement and attic leaks unaltered is a major mistake. Heat generated by homes during the winter naturally rises to the attic. Leaky attics allow heat to exit the house, providing cold air a chance to type in the process.

Repairing basement and attic leaks are essential to maintaining a cushty home. In houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems, ducts distribute conditioned air through the house. In an average house, however, a few of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. This results in higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the home comfortable; irrespective of how high the thermostat is set.

Since some ducts are concealed in walls and between floors, repairing them may be difficult. However, exposed ducts in attics, basements, crawlspaces and garages may be repaired by sealing the leaks with duct sealant.

In addition, insulating ducts running through spaces that usually become hot in summer or cold in winter such as attics, garages and crawlspaces can save significant energy.

If the areas needing sealing and insulation are available, then hiring a Vann Heating & Air contractor to remedy the matter could be avoided by doing it yourself.

The first faltering step toward fully-insulated ducts is sealing most of the points in the duct run to safeguard against air loss and drops in temperature. This is done with a mastic or sealant that's brushed on and left to dry for at the very least 24 hours. How quickly the air moves through the ducts determines how well it'll hold temperature.

Well-sealed joints allow the ducts to transport air at the set temperature. Mastic can be used because it will not degrade or shrink from the joint. Duct tape shouldn't be utilized for this purpose, as it degrades and decomposes, leaving the joint leaky and unprotected.

After the ducts have now been sealed, an insulating jacket should really be wrapped round the duct. Duct insulation is usually manufactured from fiberglass. Insulators may use rigid insulation or faced fiberglass. The fiberglass surface faces in toward the duct whilst the foil protects the outside the wrap, preventing heat loss and protecting the fiberglass inside it. The insulation is applied in sheets which are cut to fit and seamed.

Once the ducts are properly sealed, you will love more comfort in your home while spending less on energy costs.

If you are still experiencing leakage issues in the identified problem areas after trying the above suggestions, contact the local heating and cooling professional for further assistance.