Summer is here, and everyone is firing up their air conditioners in order to keep their homes comfortably cool. Many people are getting their air conditioners tuned up, in order to make sure that they can deal with the added strain of daily use. Far too few people, however, are conducting one of the most important services for air conditioners: duct sealing. Let’s take a look at why duct sealing is so important for improving your air conditioner efficiency.
Duct Leaks
The ducts in your home may seem sturdy, but they are actually quite vulnerable to leaks. These can form during installation, or over years of natural use (which creates wear and tear over time). Regardless of how the leaks form, though, they are a huge problem for ducts and the HVAC systems they serve. The US Department of Energy has estimated that up to 30% of a system’s total output is lost to duct leaks every time it is turned on. That’s almost a third of your system’s total capacity that is being lost thanks to duct leaks. This causes your HVAC systems to run for longer to compensate for the loss, which ends up costing you money and putting more strain on the system.
Duct Sealing
If you want your air conditioner to be at its best this summer, you’re going to need to have your ducts sealed. Duct sealing involves painting over leaks with a substance called “mastic.” Once the mastic dries, it will be stiff enough to seal the leak but flexible enough to move with the ducts without cracking. By having your ducts sealed, you’ll save money and improve your air conditioner efficiency at the same time.
If you haven’t had your ducts sealed yet this year, call Saddleback Plumbing. We seal ducts throughout Orange County, CA.