Could Leaky Duct Work Be Costing You Money?

You probably don’t give your duct work much thought. Afterall, it’s typically hidden away in places where you don’t see it…out of sight, out of mind. What you may not know is if your duct work is not properly constructed or sealed, you could be losing as much as 20% of your heating and cooling energy. If your ductwork problems require a big fix, it is best to have an HVAC professional take care of it; but there are some things you can do as a homeowner as well.Inspect the ductwork that you can see that’s running through your closets or attic spaces. See if there are any joints that have come apart. Flexible joints can become crushed or kinked, if you notice this, try to straighten them out. If they don’t hold their shape, replace them if they are accessible. Also, look for holes that could have appeared in the ducts. Inunconditioned spaces like attics and crawl spaces, ducts should be insulated to avoid energy loss through heat transfer. Proper insualtion can save you a lot of money.
When making repairs, use mastic tape to seal joints and seams. Regular duct tape is not adequate for sealing ducts because it can deteriorate quickly in places that are exposed to harsh conditions like crawl spaces. Minor repairs such as those above can be handled by a homeowner if they are handy. For hard to reach areas or larger issues, call MTB Heating and Air. Our technicians can take care of any and all of your duct issues plus we will use the correct adhesives, clamps, screws and insulation necessary for the job. The money you spend on the repairs will be off-set by the money you save on energy costs.