In the high heat and humidity of New Orleans, a functional HVAC system allows your home to become an oasis of cool air and comfort. But what you may not realize is just how much your HVAC is relying on a system outside of fans and air conditioning to cool your home. All of that gloriously cold air has to get through the house somehow, and in order to do so, it utilizes the ductwork. That is, a system of tubing—also known as air ducts—which ferries air in and out of your home. And if these ducts are improperly sealed or begin to leak, air pollutants can get in and energy bills can go up as your HVAC system works harder to lower the temperature.

Thankfully, sealing HVAC ducts is often a relatively straightforward process once the issue is found. And when you work with a knowledgeable and reputable company like Optimum Air Solutions, these repairs are often both quick and long-lasting. With over 20 years of experience in the Greater New Orleans area, we are no strangers to HVAC replacement and maintenance, nor the importance of keeping your property comfortable during intense weather events.

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When Do HVAC Ducts Need to Be Sealed?

When everything is working properly, the ductwork around and above your ceilings consists of an uncompromised pathway of tubing, carrying heated and cooled fresh air throughout your building. However, due to age, normal wear and tear, pest damage, improper installation and other factors, holes can form and seams and seals can loosen and detach, allowing air to escape.

In order to fix this, the leaks need to be covered and the ducts kept properly insulated in order to prevent energy loss due to temperature differences. Once the problem spots are uncovered, professionals will use sealant in order to patch the holes. However, if the ductwork has loosened, or if the damage is extensive, your air ducts may need to be reset or replaced.

Following these repairs, the efficiency and airflow of your HVAC system should be restored immediately, ridding you of extra costs in your energy bill. Additionally, air quality should quickly improve, as pollutants will no longer be able to easily make their way into your property through your air ducts.

How to Tell if Your Ductwork is Leaking

In order to get your air ducts repaired, you first need to discover that they are leaking. Some signs of potential ductwork issues include:

Increased energy bills
Temperature differences between rooms. If your heat or air conditioning is running and certain rooms are noticeably warmer or cooler than others—and if there are no obvious causes, such as open windows—this may be a sign that your ductwork is struggling.
Sounds like hissing or whistling may indicate leaks, while rattling could mean that your air ducts have loosened or are misaligned.
Strange smells, flaring allergies or increased quantities of dust. Because small particles can make their way into the ducts—and thus your property—through holes and open joins, these pollutants may be a sign of ductwork issues.
Visible holes or other damage to any ductwork which is easily accessible, like attic ducts.

How Do HVAC Specialists Seal Duct Leaks?

To some property owners, ductwork repairs may seem like something you can do on your own. It may even seem like a way to save money, if all you need is some tape or hardware-store sealant. However, the reality is quite the opposite. Trying to conduct this maintenance on your own may be ineffective, if not the cause of further or different problems—and, in turn, increased repair costs.

Instead, if you think your air ducts are leaking, call an HVAC maintenance company like Optimum Air Solutions. During a professional inspection and repair, many HVAC technicians will use computer-controlled systems to determine where and how serious the damage is. If the problem areas are small enough, accessible damage may be repaired manually, while the rest may be filled with a special aerosolized sealant called Aeroseal. Unless ductwork is damaged or old enough to need to be replaced, the goal is to avoid invasive and costly measures like creating holes in your ceiling and walls in order to access air ducts.

The Cost of Ductwork Inspections and Repairs

How expensive HVAC duct sealing is depends on the time and labor required. A small property with an unconvoluted duct layout that just requires Aeroseal to patch the holes may only have to pay a few thousand dollars in inspection and repair fees. However, bigger properties, longer work times, complicated duct layouts, the type(s) of sealant used and larger amounts of damage may all contribute to increased costs. Between the leakage tests and repairs, these factors may cause the bill to exceed $5,000 or $6,000.

Thankfully, sealing HVAC ducts is not a service which needs to be repeated, outside of fixing any future damage. While inspections may occur during proactive maintenance appointments, the cost of these leakage tests are often only a few hundred dollars, significantly less than duct repairs or replacements.

Call Optimum Air Solutions for Expert Ductwork Repair and Replacement

While HVAC duct leakage is not often a threat to your health or property, it can make your business or living space uncomfortable for those in it through uneven temperatures and lower air quality. And, like any maintenance issue, the damage will only get worse with time. As such, it is important to get in touch with a professional HVAC service once you become aware of the leak in order to see the benefits of sealing HVAC ducts as soon as possible.

With over 20 years of experience working on a variety of systems, from air conditioning and heating to refrigeration, Optimum Air Solutions is an ideal choice for any resident of the Greater New Orleans area. Our quick response times, reliable and lasting repairs, and expert technicians are here to provide the support you need to keep your property comfortable and secure. No matter the time, if your air ducts are not doing their job properly, give us a call or make an appointment online today.