Duct sealing is one of the most effective ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency, comfort, and indoor air quality. Over time, ductwork can develop leaks, gaps, and loose connections, allowing conditioned air to escape and pollutants to infiltrate. This not only impacts your home’s comfort but also your energy bills and overall air quality.
ARC Insulation is a local, high-performance home efficiency contractor with over 30 years of experience, offering comprehensive duct sealing services throughout Chicagoland. Our ductwork solutions include traditional methods like spray foam, as well as advanced Aeroseal technology.
Signs Your Ductwork Needs Sealed
Leaky ducts are a common issue, but they can be difficult to detect without a professional inspection. However, several signs suggest your ductwork may be having problems, such as:
- Uneven Temperatures – If some rooms in your home are consistently warmer or cooler than others, it may be due to air escaping from your ducts before reaching those spaces.
- High Energy Bills – A sudden or unexplained increase in your energy bills could indicate that your HVAC system is working harder than necessary due to leaky ducts.
- Unhealthy Indoor Air – Leaky ducts can pull in and distribute dust, allergens, and other contaminants from unconditioned areas like attics and basements, impacting your indoor air quality.
- Excessive Dust – If you notice that your home is dustier than usual, it could be due to leaks in your ductwork that allow dust and debris to enter the system.
- Weak Airflow – Reduced airflow from your vents can be a sign that air is escaping through leaks in your ductwork, preventing it from reaching your living areas.
- Musty Smells – Leak ducts can bring in moisture, which create an ideal environment for mildew and mold growth.
How Duct Sealing Benefits Your Whole-Home Performance
Sealing your ductwork offers numerous benefits that go beyond just fixing leaks, it has an impact on your whole-home health, comfort, and efficiency.
- Improved Comfort – Duct sealing ensures that conditioned air reaches every part of your home, providing consistent temperatures and eliminating hot and cold spots.
- Enhanced Energy Efficiency – By preventing air loss, duct sealing reduces the workload on your HVAC system, which can lower your energy consumption and reduce your utility bills.
- Better Indoor Air Quality – Properly sealed ducts prevent contaminants from entering your ductwork, resulting in cleaner air circulating throughout your home.
- Increased HVAC System Lifespan – When your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain your desired temperature, it experiences less wear and tear, potentially extending its lifespan.
- Noise Reduction – Leaky ducts can create whistling or rattling noises. Sealing these leaks can reduce or eliminate these sounds, making your home quieter and more peaceful.
Methods of Duct Sealing
At ARC Insulation, we offer duct sealing services for both existing homes and new construction, which includes high-performance insulation and Aeroseal technology. Every job starts with an in-home assessment where our team will inspect your ductwork and help determine which method of duct sealing will best suit your needs.
Duct Sealing with Spray Foam
When sealing with spray foam, our team uses metal tape on the joints and seams in the ductwork, creating a durable seal. We then apply spray foam in problem areas where ducts are exposed. When sealing is complete, we’ll then test to verify the effectiveness of our work and ensure your system is running at peak efficiency. While duct sealing with spray foam is effective when all your ductwork is exposed, it can be trickier behind finished walls.
Aeroseal Duct Sealing
AeroSeal is advanced duct sealing technology that effectively seals leaks from the inside. The method involves injecting a fine mist of sealant into the duct system while under pressure, where it’s automatically drawn to gaps. AeroSeal can seal hard-to-reach leaks as small as a pinhole and up to ½ inch wide, making it one of the most efficient solutions available for both existing homes and new construction projects.
