Your ducts play a significant role in home comfort and indoor air quality. Did you know that ducts account for up to 40 percent of heating and cooling costs in your home? Leaks or disconnected sections can add significantly to those utility bills, meaning that periodic inspection of the hidden circuit is wise. As you consider ductwork services, however, it’s also important to think about your home’s energy performance as a whole. There are many additional factors that can contribute to high utility costs, meaning that issues like home sealing should be addressed.

DIY Home Sealing

Some of your home sealing efforts are easily handled on your own. DIY weatherstripping, for example, requires a small investment in material and a little bit of time. Weatherstripping can become brittle over time, meaning that an occasional replacement is beneficial to keeping energy loss at bay. As you notice drafts, you can follow them to their sources and make a note of cracks or other vulnerabilities in your old weather proofing materials.
Caulking is another useful product for DIY home sealing. If you wonder how to seal air leaks with caulk, you’ll find that most home improvement stores provide a wide variety of caulking materials. You will need a caulking gun and a tube of an appropriate sealant for a large amount of sealing. For smaller issues, you may find smaller tubes of sealant. While many caulks are white, you can also find clear silicone materials to avoid a finish that is incompatible with your home’s decor. Caulking material can be a little sticky, but you can rub a thin layer of dish soap over the completed area to smooth it thoroughly without having it stick to your fingers.
Professional Home Sealing

While you may be able to address some of the leaks in your home through DIY methods, it’s a good idea to have a professional test for leaks if you suffer from extremely high heating and cooling bills. Your home can be evaluated for issues with insulation as well. Of course, an inspection of your ducts will also be a factor, allowing for cold spaces and leaks to be identified. Your professional will work with you to develop a plan for improved energy performance through ductwork services, insulation supplementation, additional sealing and other relevant tasks.
IAQ Considerations

As your home is tightly sealed, indoor air pollution can become a related problem. Although the influx of fresh air can affect your HVAC performance, the lack of fresh air can lead to a concentration of many different pollutants in your air supply. Ventilation is important, and your HVAC contractor can assist in providing solutions that will improve the supply of fresh air without causing significant energy loss. An energy recovery ventilator may be recommended, providing a means of recapturing up to 80 percent of heating and cooling energy from exhausted indoor air as the incoming supply is preconditioned.
Lee’s Air Conditioning can assist with your home sealing, ductwork services or IAQ needs in your Sunset, LA, home. Contact our representatives to schedule a consultation at your convenience.