Sealing and insulating ducts is a cost-effective measure that can improve the performance of your home. Leaky ducts can reduce the efficiency of the heating and cooling system by up to 20 percent, leading to higher energy bills. However, sealing and insulating ducts can increase efficiency, reduce energy costs, and even pay for itself with energy savings. Additionally, if you plan to install new heating and cooling equipment, a well-designed and sealed duct system can allow you to downsize to a smaller, less expensive system that provides better dehumidification. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of duct sealing and duct insulation? If carefully considered and planned, each or both of them can offer a viable option to meet the needs of an air treatment system.
That's why it's essential to seal and insulate ducts correctly, especially if they're located in an attic, basement, or mezzanine without air conditioning. Duct sealing is the practice of properly insulating and sealing the metal units that carry air conditioning throughout the house. These duct units are usually placed in walls, small spaces, the basement or the attic of a house, and are greatly affected by the drastic variation in temperature from the outside. Once turned on, the machine pumps an atomized polymer material into the ventilation grilles, sealing microscopic gaps and faulty connections. Bill Diederich, Aeroseal's residential vice president, said sealing ducts is the best way to achieve maximum equipment efficiency.
Together, sealing and insulating ducts create a symbiotic relationship that can lead to greater efficiency and comfort. A well-designed and properly sealed duct system can make your home more comfortable, energy efficient, and safe. It can also improve indoor air quality by preventing dust, dirt, and damp air from passing through small gaps and leaks in ducts. The entity warns that accessing ducts can be difficult, but it still provides a list of things that homeowners can do for themselves, including inspection, sealing holes with duct putty or aluminum tape, and wrapping ducts that cross unconditioned spaces with duct insulation. Sealing air conditioning ducts also has money-saving capabilities. By doing so, the air conditioner will not leak through the ducts before reaching the vents nor will it lose or gain heat due to lack of insulation.
This increases the durability of air conditioning systems as they don't have to work as hard to maintain the air temperature. There are some insulating products manufactured specifically for factory application by manufacturers of metal sheets for pre-coated rectangular ducts that use automated coil lines, saving installation time in the field. In conclusion, sealing and insulating ducts is an effective way to improve your home's performance while saving money on energy bills. It also increases efficiency and durability of heating and cooling systems while improving indoor air quality. If you plan to install new heating and cooling equipment, a well-designed and sealed duct system can allow you to downsize to a smaller system that provides better dehumidification.
