Sealing Leaky HVAC Ductwork: What to Know

HVAC Duct Sealing: What to Know

Modern HVAC February 13, 2025 0 Comment

If you’ve been a homeowner for any length of time, you may be wondering how to get the best energy efficiency possible out of your HVAC system and ductwork. You may even have received ads in the mail for various duct repair, cleaning, and sealing services.

But really how much can HVAC duct sealing improve your energy efficiency, and can it reduce your heating bill?

At Modern Sheet Metal, we are heating and cooling experts serving the Fox Valley area, and are here to answer any questions you have about energy efficiency.

Let’s discuss everything you need to know about HVAC duct sealing and whether it’s worth the investment for your home.

What are Duct Leaks?

Before we discuss duct leaks themselves, let’s talk a little bit about ductwork. Your duct system is comprised of two different kinds of ducts: return ducts and supply ducts.

Return ducts serve the purpose of pulling air from inside the home back into your HVAC system, and supply ducts push air conditioned air into your living space. Both types of ducts are critical for proper airflow and temperature regulation in your home – especially during the hot and humid summer or Wisconsin’s cold winter months!

For the first few years after a proper HVAC ductwork installation, your ducts pushed air through your home with no leakage issues. However, over time, as the system ages, leaks will begin to emerge, particularly around the spots where the ducts are joined. This is especially true of large, older homes.

It’s estimated that up to 30% of conditioned air in your home could be escaping through duct leaks. Not only that, but leaky ducts can also contribute to higher levels of dust and other irritants into your home.

How Can I Tell If My Air Ducts are Leaking?

If you suspect that your home has leaky ductwork, here are several things to check for:

You’re experiencing uneven temperatures throughout your home
There is a dust or allergen problem in your living space
The ductwork in your basement, crawlspace, etc. appears to be showing signs of age

Following the visual inspection, you should contact your local heating, cooling, and indoor air quality company for a quote on HVAC duct sealing or repair services.

How much energy does air duct sealing save? If you or your local HVAC professional seals your ducts correctly, you could be reducing as much as 20% of your home’s energy usage.

Other aspects of home energy efficiency include a properly insulated attic or investing in energy-efficient heat pumps. For more information on how to improve your home’s ductwork and indoor air quality, please call the experts at Modern Sheet Metal at (920) 733-4713.

Schedule a Service Today!

How Does a Professional Seal Your Home’s Ductwork?

Some leaks will be visible to homeowners, and can be remedied temporarily using mastic sealant or metal tape, however an HVAC company will be able to detect hidden leaks that aren’t easily seen.

Your indoor air quality team will handle the following:

Inspect your home’s ductwork to check for leaks
Replace or repair duct sections as necessary
Tighten loose ductwork and straighten any ducts that are kinked/bent
Use a professional-grade seal and tape to close any cracks or holes
Utilize a sealant, mastic, or metal tape to seal the joints between duct sections
Secure the ducts to your home’s registers and ventilation
Test your system and ductwork for any carbon monoxide leakage and overall air quality

In addition, your local indoor air quality experts will have the specialized tools and equipment to locate and handle hard-to-reach areas of your ductwork with greater accuracy.

Can I Handle HVAC Duct Sealing Myself?

If you are a DIY-er, you can take on the process of improving your ductwork performance yourself. This will involve

Sealing air leaks by using mastic sealant or metal tape in all areas you can access (this includes attics, crawlspaces, basements, or your garage).
Ensuring that the connections at vents/registers are sealed well in all spots where they meet the floor, walls, and ceiling
Note: Don’t use duct tape as it will not last nearly as long as mastic sealant or metal tape!

The Modern Sheet Metal team is here to handle the process of sealing your HVAC ductwork to take the headache out of having to handle it yourself. To get started, please give us a call at (920) 733-4713.

What are the Benefits of HVAC Duct Sealing?

Once your ductwork is properly sealed, you will notice several benefits. These include:

Cost savings in your energy bills
Better temperature control throughout your home
No more dust and allergens (this is especially important if you have pets or someone with asthma who lives in your home)
Fresh-smelling indoor air quality

Summary

As a homeowner, it’s always a good idea to periodically check on your air duct system to make sure it looks good. Pay attention to your energy bill, and the quality of temperature control throughout your living space. Poor air conditioning or heat distribution is a tell-tale sign of air duct leaking and overall poor energy efficiency.

Also, if there are high levels of dust or irritants in the air, or on the surfaces in your home, it’s time to talk with a local HVAC expert to see whether your ductwork needs attention. When in doubt, contact the experts at Modern HVAC for assistance.

Check out our heating and cooling guide for more information about your HVAC system and when you may need to call a professional.

Contact Modern HVAC for Indoor Air Quality Solutions!

At Modern Sheet Metal, we are the heating, air conditioning, and indoor air quality experts who work hard to make sure your home or business is air conditioned and heated properly! We are Carrier-certified heating and cooling technicians who work with A/C systems, furnaces, thermostats, radiant floor heating systems, indoor air quality solutions, and radon testing.

We have been serving the Fox Cities, including Appleton, Menasha, Neenah, Darboy, Kimberly, and Greenville since we first opened our doors in 1963.

We have hundreds of 5-star Google reviews to back up the quality of work that we do. If you have questions or concerns about your HVAC system’s air ducts, troubleshooting your furnace or A/C system, or a general indoor air quality question, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team today.

Contact us online or by phone at (920) 733-4713 to schedule a service.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 367 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
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   Nikola Stankoski 
 May 20, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Tony is a professional! Took a look at the issue, recognized what was wrong and fixed it in minutes!
  
 
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   Jessica Lee 
 May 17, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fast, knowledgeable and informative. Had an issue with a water leak into the furnace. They were here within a couple of hours and fixed it for the night so we had heat and then came back the next day for the permanent fix! I would 100% recommend for all heating/cooling needs. They are always timely and efficient with every call that I have made!

Just had Brad out to service our air conditioner and he was knowledgeable and able to make the repair quickly. Always highly recommend Modern Sheet Metal!!
  
 
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   Dave Wicihowski 
 May 16, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Technician was friendly and thorough.
  
 
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   William Skarie 
 May 16, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My system is efficient and trouble free.
  
 
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   T Lynne 
 May 15, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Modern Metal came out right away and provided fair pricing and had everything fixed the next day! I greatly appreciated that after a few other places charged us ridiculous trip charges and told us we had to replace our unit. The guys that showed up were very friendly and professional. I can’t recommend them enough! They have done work for our entire family! When you’re good to your customers they return!
  
 
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   Wendy Zolkowski 
 May 14, 2024
 
 
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 May 13, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The 2 service guys were very nice to work with.  With this kind of service, there's no reason to go anywhere else.
  
 
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 May 9, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent communication and service
  
 
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 May 9, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Always a pleasant experience.  Very Knowledgable.
  
 
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   Andrew Schmidt 
 May 8, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This company goes above and beyond every time. They are friendly, courteous, and professional. We would use them again and again.