Air leaks in your attic and basement can really drive up home heating costs if left unattended. This article provides some do-it-yourself tips on how to seal and insulate heating and cooling ducts.
One of the most energy efficient ways to make your home feel more comfortable is by sealing and insulating your duct system.
When it comes to comfort, leaky air affects us most during the winter. While drafty doors and windows contribute to the problem, most significant 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 home, providing cold air an opportunity to enter in the process.
Repairing basement and attic leaks are essential to maintaining a comfortable home. In houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems, ducts distribute conditioned air throughout the house. In a typical house, however, some of the air that moves through the duct system is lost because of leaks and poorly sealed connections. This results in higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house comfortable; no matter how high the thermostat is set.
Since some ducts are concealed in walls and between floors, repairing them can be difficult. However, exposed ducts in attics, basements, crawlspaces and garages can be repaired by sealing the leaks with duct sealant.
In addition, insulating ducts running through spaces that often become hot in summer or cold in winter such as attics, garages and crawlspaces can save significant energy.
If the areas in need of sealing and insulation are accessible, then hiring a contractor to remedy the issue can be avoided by doing it yourself.
The first step toward fully-insulated ducts is sealing all the points in the duct run to protect against air loss and drops in temperature. This is done with a mastic or sealant that is brushed on and left to dry for at least 24 hours. How quickly the air moves through the ducts determines how well it will hold temperature.
Well-sealed joints allow the ducts to carry air at the set temperature. Mastic is used because it will not degrade or shrink away from the joint. Duct tape should not be used for this purpose, since it degrades and decomposes, leaving the joint leaky and unprotected.
Once the ducts have been sealed, an insulating jacket should be wrapped around the duct. Duct insulation is typically made of fiberglass. Insulators may use rigid insulation or faced fiberglass. The fiberglass surface faces in toward the duct while the foil protects the outside of the wrap, preventing heat loss and protecting the fiberglass inside it. The insulation is applied in sheets that are cut to fit and seamed.
Once the ducts are properly sealed, you will enjoy 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 your local heating and cooling professional for further assistance.
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