Duct Sealing

If you imagine a house as a living organism, air ducts are its vessels. Just as oxygenated blood moves to all organs of the body, so fresh air gets to every corner of your home or office through the branches of pipes and ducts. But when cracks appear in the system, heat, cold, and purified air leak through them, depriving you of comfort. The units start working overtime to compensate for these losses. As a result, energy bills increase, but the problem remains unsolved. The reason for this is insufficient sealing of the air ducts—the channels that connect the various components of the HVAC system. Even a minor leak significantly affects the efficiency of cooling, ventilation, and heating units.

Main signs of air duct leaks

To ensure that the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system provides a comfortable microclimate in buildings, you need to monitor the condition of all its components. This also applies to the ducts through which air circulates. High-quality sealing of air ducts can even help outdated units to work more efficiently. It is enough to notice the problem in time.

The following signs may indicate leaks in the air ducts:

• Reduced efficiency of equipment units: Manifested in increased time to reach the desired temperature or frequent switching on and off of the system.
• Increased gas or electricity bills: Leaks in the air ducts make the HVAC system work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature.
• Uneven temperature distribution: Different rooms in a home or office may have different temperatures despite the same climate control equipment settings.
• Weak airflow: A decrease in the intensity of air leakage from ventilation openings is also often a sign of insufficient air duct sealing.
• Strange sounds: Leaky ducts can produce unusual sounds when air passes through them, such as whistling, rustling, or rumbling.
• Perceptible stench: Unpleasant odors from basements, attics, or other places enter the ventilation system through holes and cracks in the ducts and pipes, which is dangerous to health.
• An increase in dust in the room indicates that air from contaminated outside areas is entering the system through cracks.

Why is air duct sealing important?

Air ducts can connect air conditioning, ventilation, and heating units into one system. They are invisible but stretch throughout the house. Air circulates through these ducts. If these air conductors lose their tightness, a leak occurs. Cracks affect various parameters, including human safety, environmental performance, and equipment durability.

By sealing air duct leaks promptly, you can improve the following indicators:

• Energy efficiency: According to experts, leaks in the air duct system can cause up to 30% of heating and cooling costs.
• Air quality: Perfect sealing prevents dirt, dust, and allergens from entering the ventilation system.
• Comfortable microclimate: Ensures uniform air flow and maintains comfortable conditions throughout the home or office.

How to detect air leaks in air ducts

It is not always possible to identify the location of an air leak on your own. For an accurate diagnosis, we recommend contacting professionals who specialize in air duct sealing services and have the appropriate equipment. This way, you will avoid mistakes and unnecessary costs.

Experts test air ducts using:

• Smoke generators: The equipment detects leaks by releasing smoke into the pipe system and observing where exactly the smoke comes out.
• Thermographic cameras and thermal imagers: They help to record temperature changes on the surface of air ducts, indicating the localization of leaks.
• High pressure: By creating excessive pressure in the system, it is possible to identify where cracks appear.

Without special equipment, it is impossible to pinpoint the exact location of the leak and choose the best way to seal the HVAC ducts. HVAC users can only visually assess the approximate state of affairs. It is better to entrust the final diagnosis and solution to the problem to professionals. In the end, it will be cheaper, safer, and faster than attempting to fix the leak yourself. Do-it-yourself ventilation repairs are often unsuccessful and end in an emergency search for specialists near you and your facility.

Methods of sealing air ductwork

The method of eliminating leaks depends on the structure of the system and the materials from which it is made. If the HVAC air duct sealing work is carried out by professionals, they start working after a thorough inspection and accurate diagnosis.

Specialists use different methods when applying:

• Sealants are one of the most common ways of sealing air ducts. The products are applied to joints, seams, and connections.
• Metal tape provides a strong and durable seal on joints.
• Aerosols sprayed inside the air ducts form a thin layer of sealant that prevents air leakage. This method is suitable for hard-to-reach places.

Advantages of professional sealing

Although some manipulations can be performed independently, we still recommend that you do not neglect professional services for sealing the air ducts of climate systems. Turning to specialists has several advantages:

• Efficiency: Professionals have the necessary skills and equipment to detect and eliminate even the smallest leaks that are invisible to the human eye.
• Quality assurance: Specialized companies are licensed and provide a guarantee for the work performed, which provides additional confidence in the quality of the sealing.
• Saving time: Specialists will quickly and efficiently perform work that would take a person without experience and equipment a lot of time.

How are air ducts sealed?

Rocky Mountain offers professional AC duct sealing services that help to increase the energy efficiency of HVAC systems, improve indoor air quality, and provide a comfortable microclimate. The service is available for commercial and residential customers. The process includes several stages that guarantee a quality result.

The sequence of actions:

• Initial assessment and inspection to identify leaks
• Drawing up an estimate
• Conclusion of the contract
• Cleaning of air ducts for better adhesion to the sealant
• Selection of methods and materials
• Sealing process
• Checking the results.

Rocky Mountain has considerable experience and a large team of specialists who perform their work efficiently and quickly. In addition to duct sealing, we provide regular HVAC system maintenance to ensure efficiency and reliability.

The cost of air duct sealing services from our company is affordable and transparent. It is formed before the start of work at the facility. A contract is concluded with all customers. Payment is made after the HVAC leakage is sealed. Our customers always know what they are paying for and how much.

Air duct sealing is important not only for your wallet but also for your health and comfort. It's an investment that pays off in terms of reduced energy costs, improved air quality, and increased overall comfort in your home or office. Don't put off until tomorrow what can make your life better today—take care of your climate systems now. Order an air duct sealing service in Rocky Mountain!