Stop Air Conditioning Your Attic!

A duct system that is well-designed and properly sealed can make your home much more comfortable, energy efficient and safer during our hot Arizona valley summers. Sealing and insulating ducts can help with common comfort problems, such as rooms that are too hot in the summer.

In houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems, ducts distribute conditioned air throughout the house. In a typical house, however, about 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. The result is higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set. Sealing those leaks in the ducts is a must to get better performance from your heating and cooling system. In addition, insulating ducts in unconditioned spaces that get especially hot or cold (such as attics, garages, or crawlspaces) can save significant energy.

So how do you know if your home has poorly performing ducts? The Energy Star website has several things to look for which are good indicators:

• you have high summer and winter utility bills;
• you have rooms that are difficult to heat and cool;
• you have stuffy rooms that never seem to feel comfortable;
• your ducts are located in an attic, crawlspace, or the garage;
• you find tangled or kinked flexible ducts in your system.

If you recognize any of those indicators, have a professional air conditioning company use a product such as Aeroseal in your ducts. Aeroseal allows them to find and seal any problem cracks without causing damage to your home. It only takes one application to seal undetectable holes in your ductwork with 98% effectiveness.

Have annual maintenance done on your system before hot or cold weather begins. When air is leaking out of cracks in the ducts, extra air and energy must be used to heat or cool the space causing more stress on your HVAC unit. A professional technician can find small problems before they get bigger, such as determining if your fan motor is dying; a big warning sign for an air conditioner. A technician can also check electrical connections and check your voltage and will add refrigerant to your system.

Consider installing new HVAC equipment if yours is over 10 years old. A well-designed and sealed duct system may allow you to downsize to a smaller, less costly heating and cooling system that will provide better service.

While you can’t eliminate all air leakage, sealing ducts and other areas where air can escape will help significantly. Wolff Mechanical is dedicated to helping your home achieve maximum efficiency, reliability and comfort. Visit our website to view the services we provide and call us today for a free in-home estimate.

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