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How Do You Find & Fix Air Leaks For Your HVAC System?

Your HVAC is crucial to keeping your home comfortable, but even the best heating and cooling systems will not perform properly when there are air leaks somewhere in the system. While some air leaks will cause your HVAC to use too much energy, others may cause inconsistent temperatures between rooms or even higher utility bills. In this blog, we will be discussing how to identify air leaks in your HVAC system, how to find those air leaks, and how to fix them so that your HVAC runs efficiently all year long.

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A ductwork inspection with North Shore Home Energy can catch invisible leaks, clogged ventilation, and more. Contact us today!

Signs of Air Leaks in Your HVAC System

The first step towards a healthy, functional HVAC system is a quick inspection for possible air leaks. Some signs to watch out for include:

Unbalanced temperatures throughout your home
Higher energy bills than usual
Strange sounds
Weak airflow coming from vents
Excessive dust

How to Find Air Leaks in Your HVAC System

Once you are convinced you have a leak, it’s time to determine where it is leaking. Here are some ways to find where your HVAC system may be leaking air:

  • Visual inspection: Start out by looking at the exposed ductwork and visually inspect it for cracked seams, disconnected joints, and holes in the ducts. The HVAC bends and duct fittings are often suspected of air leaks.
  • Use smoke pencils/incense sticks: While your system is running, hold a smoke pencil or incense stick near duct joints. If the smoke wavers or is sucked into a duct joint, there is a leak.
  • Audio inspection: Turn off all other noises and listen intently around your ducts for whistling, rattling, or hissing sounds.
  • Physical inspection: Run your hand along the ductwork and feel for air movement. Even a little air movement could mean a leak.

How to Repair Air Leaks in Your HVAC

Once you find the leaks, you can perform minor home repairs to restore your HVAC system. These repairs include:

  • Duct sealing tape: When you come across small cracks or loose connections, use a high-quality foil tape meant specifically for HVAC ducting to seal them up. Do not use regular duct tape, as it will lose its adhesive properties with time.
  • Mastic sealant: If you want a more durable seal on top of your leaks, you can apply mastic, which is a thick, paste-like substance, to seal them. Mastic is great for sealing leaks at joints and when you have an uneven gap.
  • Replace the damaged section: If you find portions of your ductwork that are damaged or extremely damaged, it may be more economical to replace the faulty section than to repair it.
  • Call a professional. If you have leaks that are in tight spaces or if there are a lot of leaks, you may want to consider hiring a company that specializes in HVAC duct cleaning and sealing.

HVAC Services in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire

North Shore Home Energy provides HVAC services for businesses and homes throughout Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. If you need help with new installations, upgrades, repairs, maintenance, or tune-ups give us a call! 

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