Duct Sealing in Santa Fe
Ducts are often neglected by homeowners, and it’s easy to see why. They’re designed to be unobtrusive, quiet, and out of sight as much as possible. It’s no wonder that they often don’t get the professional attention that they need to keep operating properly. Though they may seem like they don’t need maintenance or repairs, the ducts in your home can actually develop some serious problems without them. One of the most serious issues that ducts commonly develop is leaks. Read on to find out more about why duct leaks are such a problem, and how duct sealing can help solve them. If you haven’t had your ducts sealed in a while, call Roadrunner Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing today to make an appointment.
Roadrunner Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing provides reliable air duct cleaning services in Santa Fe, New Mexico and the surrounding areas.
Is Duct Sealing Really Necessary?
Duct leaks may not seem like such a big deal at first. After all, as long as you keep getting warm or cool air when you call for it, who cares about a few leaks, right? Actually, duct leaks can contribute to a serious loss of energy for your forced air systems. The U.S. Department of Energy has estimated that an average forced air system loses as much as 30% of its total output to leaks in the ductwork. That’s almost a third of your total heating and air conditioning expenses that’s completely going to waste.
Energy loss isn’t the only problem with duct leaks, either. Leaks in the ducts provide entry points for all sorts of contaminants. Dust, pollen, viruses, bacteria, and many more harmful pollutants can enter your ducts through leaks, after which they can be circulated around the house. Worst of all, if moisture is allowed to enter the ducts, it can create the perfect environment for mold growth. Mold colonies release spores which can have serious health effects if inhaled. So, for both your wallet and your health, it is absolutely worth it to have your ducts sealed.
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Ian Alsop
★★★★★
2 days ago
Very knowledgeable group, excellent service. I got a relatively simple system installed with a single outdoor unit and a single minisplit inside. The whole team is terrific, from Steven Booth who set it up and explained everything to the … More installers who were quick and very knowledgeable. I highly recommend them.
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John Sweeney
★★★★★
a week ago
Just had Mitsubishi splits installed by Roadrunner. Design engineering from Stephen was thorough and spot on. Project took two days and was right on schedule. Horacio, Alcides and Justin did the work, and they were friendly, efficient and … More extremely neat. Highly recommend Roadrunner. We’re ready for a hot Summer!
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Matthew
★★★★★
3 weeks ago
Switching from central gas forced air heat and AC in an older home to heat pump minis is not easy or cheap and Roadrunner did a great job, Steven Booth is very knowledgeable and helpful with the design and the crew was courteous and skillful … More with the installation. I would recommend Roadrunner.
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Marvin Godner
★★★★★
3 weeks ago
Gus arrived on time! Explained everything clearly! Experienced and did all the maintnanence needed. Great service!
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Paul Costello
★★★★★
a month ago
Roadrunner installed air conditioning when I was out of town, five mini split units. If I hadn't known, I didn't have air conditioning before. I would never have known they installed it. The house was spotless. The job was perfect … More and they even painted the covers to match exactly the stucco on my home. I was not here, but they seem to be very professional about Being in my home ,always locking up at the end of the night. I would highly recommend this company to do work.Id like to thank Mauri, Guz, Justin and Julian, what a great job!!!
The Process of Sealing Ductwork
A lot of people may assume that duct tape is the primary method of duct sealing. Based on this assumption, more than a few homeowners have tried to seal their own ducts. Despite the name, however, ducts tape is not a good method for sealing ducts. It doesn’t create a tight enough seal, and the problem often persists after duct tape is applied.
Instead, leaks in the ducts are often painted over with a substance called mastic. This has a consistency similar to sheetrock. Once it dries, it is stiff enough to maintain a seal but flexible enough to expand and contract with the ducts without cracking. Using mastic, it is fairly easy for a professional to create a lasting seal that will prevent any serious energy loss or contaminant infiltration. In some cases, the newly sealed leak will also be taped over by specialized industry duct tape. Unlike common duct tape, this tape is made of different materials, and is more suited to the job of leak sealing.
If you need your ducts sealed, call Roadrunner Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing to schedule an appointment.