Duct Sealing in Abbeville, LA That Keeps Conditioned Air Inside Your Living Space

Inspection starts with the accessible parts of the system: the connections at the furnace or air handler, plenums, trunk lines, branch takeoffs and register boots. Common leak points include gaps where the plenum meets the equipment, unsealed seams in metal ducts, loose connections at takeoffs and boots that are not sealed to the ceiling or floor.

Visual inspection finds obvious problems such as disconnected runs, crushed sections and torn flex duct jackets. Smaller leaks are found by running the system and feeling for air movement, using smoke pencils or thermal imaging to show temperature differences where conditioned air escapes.

Duct leakage testing measures total leakage. A calibrated fan pressurizes the duct system with registers sealed, and the airflow needed to maintain a test pressure indicates how much air is escaping. Testing before and after sealing documents the improvement, and some codes and utility programs require it.

Leak location and test results guide the sealing plan. We focus effort on the largest and most accessible leaks first, since they offer the greatest improvement for the cost.

Mastic is a thick, flexible sealant brushed onto duct joints and seams, often with fiberglass mesh tape for larger gaps. It adheres well to metal and duct board, remains flexible as ducts expand and contract and lasts for decades. Mastic is our primary method for accessible duct joints.

Approved foil tapes designed for ductwork provide an alternative in some locations. Standard cloth duct tape, despite its name, is not suitable for sealing ducts because its adhesive dries out and fails over time. We remove failing tape and replace it with durable sealing.

Aerosol duct sealing uses a non-toxic sealant sprayed into the pressurized duct system from the inside. Particles travel through the ducts and accumulate at leaks, gradually sealing them. This approach reaches leaks inside walls and other inaccessible places. It is effective for small to moderate leaks, while large disconnections still need manual repair.

Register boots are sealed to drywall or flooring, and the connections at the equipment are sealed. Where ducts are in unconditioned spaces, we check insulation after sealing and repair or add it where needed.

After sealing, more of the air your system produces reaches the rooms. Many homeowners notice stronger airflow at registers that were previously weak, more even temperatures between rooms and shorter run times to reach the thermostat setting. Energy savings depend on how leaky the ducts were and where they are located.

Indoor air quality often improves when leaky returns stop drawing air from attics, crawl spaces and garages. Dust buildup may decrease, and musty odors associated with crawl space air may diminish.

Sealing can increase static pressure slightly because air that was escaping now travels through the ducts to the registers. In most systems this is beneficial, but in systems with undersized ducts it may reveal restrictions that were masked by leaks. We measure static pressure after sealing and recommend adjustments if needed.

You receive documentation of the work performed and, where testing was done, the before and after leakage results. This documentation can support utility rebate applications and future service.

Duct sealing works best when it is considered alongside the rest of the building. If ducts run through an attic, sealing and insulating them provides significant benefit, but moving the ducts into conditioned space or sealing and insulating the attic itself can deliver even more in some homes. We look at the whole picture and explain where sealing fits.

Attic air sealing and insulation are closely related to duct performance. Gaps around recessed lights, top plates, plumbing penetrations and attic hatches allow warm, moist indoor air to escape into the attic in winter and hot attic air to affect ceilings in summer. While we focus on the ductwork, we will point out obvious air leakage we see during our inspection so you can address it with an insulation contractor if you wish.

Equipment replacement is an ideal time to seal ducts. New high efficiency equipment performs as rated only when the air it produces reaches the rooms. Sealing the ducts at the same time helps the new system deliver the comfort and savings you are paying for, and it may allow a smaller system to meet the load.

Utility programs in some areas offer incentives for duct sealing that meets specific leakage targets verified by testing. We can perform before and after testing and provide documentation to support applications. Program requirements change, so it is worth confirming current rules with your utility before the work begins.