Summer is almost here, and you’re probably already busy getting your home ready for the coming heat. You have very likely already scheduled air conditioning maintenance to make sure that your system is ready to cope with the added strain. However, that’s not the only thing you can do to make sure that your air conditioner is ready for summer. Read on to find out how duct sealing can help make your air conditioner more efficient.
Why Duct Sealing?
It may not seem like it, but the ducts in most homes are actually quite susceptible to leaks. Whether from mistakes made during installation, physical damage from an outside source, or just from years of normal use, ducts can develop leaks quite easily for any number of reasons. While the individual leaks may be small, they can add up quite quickly. In fact, the US Department of Energy has estimated that the average forced air system loses as much as 30% of its total output to duct leaks. That’s nearly a third of the total output you’re paying for that’s going to waste.
If your ducts are full of leaks, your air conditioner will have to work for longer to cool your home. That makes your home less comfortable, and costs you more money.
Duct Sealing
Duct sealing involves painting over the leaks in your ducts with a substance called mastic. Mastic is a type of epoxy that, once dry, is stiff enough to seal the ducts but flexible enough to move with them without cracking. This will restore that lost output to your air conditioner, making your home that much more energy efficient and comfortable.