Duct tape can fix anything… except ducts. Despite its name, professionals do not use duct tape for ductwork sealing, and neither should you. Having well-sealed ducts is important for keeping energy costs low, keeping your home comfortable, and protecting your family from exhaust fumes, but using the proper materials is crucial.
Your ducts should be properly sealed by a professional when they are installed, but materials break down and ducts get jostled, creating gaps in joints that will leak conditioned air into the unconditioned spaces in your home. This not only costs you more in energy bills, but can also prevent the rooms in your home from reaching the ideal temperature.
Mastic sealant is a gummy substance that adheres to ductwork; it is often covered with a mesh tape. Common duct tape simply doesn’t last as long as mastic sealant because it can become dry and cracked much more quickly. Applying mastic sealant and mesh tape requires a few more steps, but it’s well worth the effort:
- Clean the duct surface around the area that will be sealed. The mastic needs a clean surface to adhere properly.
- Apply the mastic with a gloved hand, a paint brush, a trowel or other suitable device to create a uniform coating on the surface of the duct.
- Push the mastic into the source of the leak and make sure there are no gaps on the edges.
- For larger gaps, or areas under stress, reinforce the mastic with mesh tape to hold the joint in place. Always make sure the tape is compatible with the mastic you are using.
Ductwork sealing is just one way to improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system, but there’s much more you can do. Annual preventive maintenance is critical for keeping your equipment operating at optimal efficiency. If you want to improve the energy efficiency of your home, call Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Co. to speak with one of our experts. We’ll help you identify sources of energy loss and recommend improvements to help you save money.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ductwork sealing and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Hansberger Refrigeration & Electric Co services the Yuma area in Arizona. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
