Leaky Ductwork
Leaky Ductwork | Ventilation and Air Quality | Heating and Air Conditioning | Altamont
When heated or cooled air slips through cracks in your ductwork, you’re not just losing comfort—you’re losing money. HEP’s Altamont technicians pinpoint leaks with advanced diagnostics, seal them from the inside out, and restore full airflow to every register. The result is quieter operation, consistent temperatures, and a system that doesn’t have to run overtime to keep up. More than a quick fix, our approach maximizes efficiency and helps safeguard the investment you’ve already made in your HVAC equipment.
Most importantly, properly sealed ducts protect the health of your home. By preventing dust, pollen, and moisture from being pulled into the airflow, we dramatically improve ventilation and air quality, easing allergy symptoms and reducing mold risk. From the first inspection to the final test, HEP delivers clean, breathable comfort you can feel—backed by local expertise you can trust.
FAQs
How can I tell if my ductwork is leaking?
Typical warning signs include uneven room temperatures, weak airflow from certain registers, excessive dust, musty odors, or a spike in utility bills without a change in thermostat settings. A quick DIY check is to hold a lit incense stick near exposed duct runs in your attic, crawl-space, or basement; if the smoke wavers or is pulled into a seam while the blower is running, air is escaping. For a definitive answer, an HVAC professional can perform a duct-blaster test that pressurizes the system and measures actual leakage in cubic feet per minute (CFM).
Why is leaky ductwork such a problem for indoor air quality?
When return-side duct joints are unsealed, they can draw in contaminants from attics, crawl-spaces, or wall cavities—areas that may contain insulation fibers, pest droppings, mold spores, or chemical fumes. Those pollutants bypass your HVAC filter and are distributed to every conditioned room, aggravating allergies and respiratory issues. Supply-side leaks also reduce the volume of filtered, conditioned air reaching the living space, lowering air changes per hour and allowing indoor pollutants (VOCs, cooking fumes, pet dander) to linger longer than they should.
How much energy can I lose through leaky ducts, and will sealing them lower my bills in Altamont?
National studies by ENERGY STAR show that typical homes lose 20–30 % of heated or cooled air through gaps, holes, and loose connections in the duct system. In Altamont’s four-season climate—hot summers and chilly winters—that can translate to $200–$400 per year in wasted electricity or gas. Sealing and insulating ducts often pays for itself within two to five years, and homeowners frequently report improved comfort at lower thermostat settings once airflow is restored to design levels.
What methods do professionals use to locate and seal duct leaks?
HVAC technicians start with a visual inspection, but the gold-standard is a duct-blaster or blower-door test combined with pressure pan readings. Once problem areas are pinpointed, pros use UL-181 mastic or specialized foil tape for accessible joints, then reinforce with mechanical fasteners. For inaccessible sections inside walls or slab foundations, they may recommend an aerosolized sealant (e.g., Aeroseal) that’s blown into the duct interior, where it seeks out and seals gaps up to ⅝ in. wide without demolition.
Can I seal my ductwork myself, or should I hire a certified HVAC technician?
Handy homeowners can seal exposed metal or flex-duct in attics and basements using mastic and foil tape, provided they avoid common pitfalls such as covering condensation drains, kinking flex runs, or blocking balancing dampers. However, DIY work won’t address leaks hidden behind drywall, nor will it balance airflow or verify results with diagnostic equipment. A certified technician can also check static pressure, combustion safety, and code compliance, ensuring your HVAC system runs efficiently and safely after the repair.
How often should ductwork be inspected or tested in Altamont's climate, and does code require it?
For existing homes, a visual inspection every 3–5 years—or sooner if you remodel, add insulation, or notice comfort issues—is a good rule of thumb. Because Altamont experiences both high summer heat and winter cold, seals and insulation can degrade faster than in milder regions. The current California Energy Code (Title 24) mandates duct leakage testing for new construction and when more than 40 ft² of ductwork is added or replaced during an HVAC change-out. Even if your project doesn’t trigger the code, periodic professional testing can catch small leaks before they become costly energy and air-quality problems.