Is Duct Sealing Worth It?

Since duct sealing can be expensive, you’re probably wondering if it makes sense to invest in the service in the first place.

If you have leaky ducts, duct sealing is definitely worth it because it leads to benefits such as:

• Increased energy efficiency
• Improved indoor comfort
• Healthier air quality

We’ll go into more detail about each of the benefits in this blog. We’ll also share how to know for sure if your ducts need to be sealed.

Want a trusted Phoenix professional to inspect or seal your ducts?

We think duct sealing is worth it, and we’re not alone: EnergyStar, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, agrees that if done correctly, duct sealing can be highly beneficial for homes with leaky ducts.

Let’s look at 3 of the main benefits of duct sealing in more detail.

Leaky ducts make your air conditioner or heating system work longer and harder to cool/heat your home.

In fact, according to EnergyStar, leaky ducts can reduce the energy efficiency of your HVAC system by up to 20%. This means if you have leaky ducts, you’ll experience higher monthly energy bills and extra wear and tear on your HVAC system.

Sealing off leaks and reconnecting disconnected ducts will ultimately make your air conditioner and heating system work less to heat or cool your home, which will lower your monthly energy bills and prolong the lifespan of your HVAC equipment.

Learn more about how leaky ducts increase energy bills by reading our blog, “The Hidden Leak In Your Home That’s Skyrocketing Your Energy Bills.”

Sealing leaky ducts also improves the overall comfort of your home.\

Here’s why: Leaky ducts allow conditioned air to leak into the attic. This means that some of the cool air from your AC or the hot air from your heating system isn’t reaching certain areas of your home, which can create hot or cold spots in certain rooms.

Getting your ducts sealed will ensure that conditioned air is being delivered into your home like it should, instead of escaping into the attic.

Dust, insulation particles and other debris from the attic can enter your home if your ducts have leaks. These particles can aggravate allergies and cause other health issues.

Additionally, leaky ducts can lead to a problem called backdrafting. Backdrafting is where combustion gases from household appliances (such as a water heater, clothes dryer, furnace) get drawn back into your home, instead of being released outside like they normally would. Breathing in these combustion gases is dangerous, and could lead to serious health problems.

Getting your ducts sealed prevents debris from entering your home, and minimizes the risk of backdrafting.

EnergyStar estimates that the average house loses 20–30% of the air that moves through the duct system because of leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts.

So chances are, your home has leaky ducts. If you notice the following signs, it may be time to contact a professional for a duct inspection:

• Hot or cold spots in your home
• Higher energy bills than normal
• High indoor humidity in some rooms
• Excessive dust/debris in your home
• Unexplained allergies or respiratory illness

If you notice those signs, the best way to know for sure if you need duct sealing is to have a trusted professional inspect them. A certified HVAC professional will have the necessary tools and equipment to test for leaks and pinpoint their exact location.