My home is outfitted with a natural gas furnace and central air conditioner.
The system utilizes ductwork to transport air to and from the various rooms.
The ductwork is largely concealed behind walls and ceilings and within crawlspaces, making it difficult to access and easy to forget about. I’ve read that the majority of duct systems leak as much as 30% of conditioned air. Cracks at the seams, holes and other imperfections allow heated and cooled air to escape. When the maximum amount of air fails to reach the desired destination, the equipment is forced to work that much harder and longer. Operation consumes more energy, experiences greater wear and tear and leads to much higher utility bills. There is an increased risk of malfunctions and the probability of shortened system service life. Holes in the ductwork also draw in outside air and contaminants. Dust, pollen, fumes, mold spores, VOCs and other pollutants can get spread into the breathing air. Concerned that the ducts were undermining the performance of the furnace and air conditioner, I got in touch with a local HVAC contractor. Living in Plano, Texas, I rely heavily on heating and cooling. Summer temperatures frequently climb into the mid nineties with brutal humidity. Winter temperatures drop into the low thirties with bitter windchill. Heating and cooling adds up to about 50% of the household energy bills. I need the system operating as efficiently and effectively as possible. The HVAC technician tested the ductwork and determined that sealing was necessary. Fortunately the sealing process was quick and non-invasive.