Whether you’re trying to save money at home or at your place of business, you might start by looking at your ductwork. Information made available by the Healthy House Institute indicates that a high percentage of homes may contain ductwork as a means of indoor heating and cooling.
Additionally, this may be true of many businesses, which is why taking measures to ensure that your ductwork system is in good shape is a wise strategy. A residential or commercial building with a worn system of leaky ducts could drain your household or business budget considerably.
How to Detect Problems Duct Leaks
You might detect possible duct leaks in a variety of ways. Kinked or tangled ducts may indicate such leaks. One of the telltale signs that your ductwork needs to be sealed is a suddenly high power bill. If your utility bills seem much higher than they were a year ago, you should probably schedule a heating and AC inspection.
The individual rooms in your building may also offer clues as to whether the ductwork is in optimal condition. If certain rooms take too long to heat or cool, you may have a problem. Additionally, if the same rooms don’t seem to hold the desired temperature for very long, leaky ducts may be to blame.
Another indication that your ductwork may need to be sealed is if the ducts are located in an area that is difficult to reach. This area may include your attic or your basement. The area might also include the crawlspace in your home or workplace.
How Duct Sealing Can Help You Save Money
According to the Energy Star website, ducts with leaks could decrease the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by up to 20 percent. Once the ducts have been sealed and insulated, you should start to experience lower energy bills overall. If you wish to install a new HVAC system, a properly sealed ductwork system may enable you to buy smaller cooling and heating equipment than you otherwise might.
In addition to saving money on monthly utility bills, you could save money in other ways when you have your ducts sealed. Duct sealing can reduce the amount of moisture that accumulates near the ductwork. This lowers the risk of mold and moisture damage, and it reduces the need to purchase a dehumidifier for your home or office.
If the return ducts in your system are leaking, the cooling coil could become clogged and subsequently require maintenance. In some cases, depressurization caused by leaks may actually be a fire hazard, which could be not only expensive but dangerous.
Leaky ductwork may cause an assortment of problems in the home or workplace. If you suspect that the ducts in your building might not be properly sealed, you may want to schedule an appointment with a residential or commercial HVAC technician. If leaks in the ductwork are the problem, they can easily be sealed and insulated – and you could ultimately save a lot of money by having this done.
