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Posts Tagged ‘Duct Sealing’

Duct Sealing: It’s Not a Job for Duct Tape!

Monday, May 1st, 2017

ducts-in-atticEveryone is getting ready for the coming of summer weather around here, and that means taking care of air conditioning maintenance jobs, both for homes and businesses. Maintaining your air conditioner with the help of our skilled technicians is the best way to ensure an AC that works without fault over the summer and won’t cost more to run than it should.

But there’s more to keeping your AC energy efficient than seeing it’s properly maintained. One of the big “energy thieves” in homes comes from leaks in the ductwork, and it’s something that people often don’t think about. Proper duct sealing from ventilation professionals can stop your HVAC system from losing from 20% to 30% of the air moving through it. Think about what that means: that’s air you pay to cool in the summer (or heat during the winter) that simply goes to waste. With the ducts sealed up, you’ll see significant savings on your monthly energy bills.

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You Have Leaky Air Ducts! Here’s How You Can Tell…

Monday, August 22nd, 2016

Ventilation ducts with air leaks are a major source of air conditioning and heating inefficiency in homes. In fact, the ductwork can lose up to 30% of the air moving through it due to small gaps and holes. If your ducts are suffering from air leaks, you’ll want to have professionals seal them up and restore the HVAC system to full efficiency. (Yes, you must have professionals handle this job; store-bought duct tape will not take care of it!)

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The Antidote to Faulty Ductwork: Duct Sealing

Monday, November 23rd, 2015

Ductwork is intrinsic to any forced-air system, making it very important that your ductwork be in good shape in order to perform its job of delivering air efficiently. Faulty ductwork can account for up to a 30% air loss for your home, making the repair of any faulty ductwork you have imperative. However, you don’t want to hire someone who is going to provide you with the equivalent of putting some duct tape on the cracks and holes of your ductwork system. You want real duct sealing, and the experts from Comfort Flow Heating can help you.

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How Duct Sealing Can Save You Money

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015

Ductwork is one of the most important, and most neglected, parts of you HVAC system. You home’s ducts are responsible for making centralized forced air heating and cooling possible in the first place. Despite their importance, however, ducts are often completely ignored when it comes to required maintenance. This is unfortunate, as keeping your ducts in good condition can actually save you quite a bit of money on your heating and electric bills. Want to know how? Read on to find out.

Common Duct Issues

Ducts have a couple of different issues with which they’re commonly afflicted. Dust, debris, moisture, and rust are all issues that affect the quality of your ducts. The biggest issue by far, however, is duct leaks. Ducts are actually quite vulnerable to leaks, despite their relatively passive role in heating and air conditioning. Improper installation often leaves gaps between the different sections of ductwork. Moisture or animal activity can create small holes through which air can escape. Even expanding and contracting from regular use can result in sections of the ductwork working themselves loose.

So, what’s the big deal? A few small leaks here and there hardly constitute an emergency, right? Actually, the US Department of Energy has estimated that the average forced air system loses as much as 30% of its output to duct leaks. That’s almost a third of your heating and air conditioning output that you’re still paying for, but which is lost before it ever reaches its destination. That loss forces your systems to stay on longer to accomplish the same temperatures, which contributes to a significant rise in your heating and electric bills.

How Duct Sealing can Help

Duct sealing is the process of finding and closing any leaks that may be present in your ductwork. By having an experienced professional seal your ducts for you, you’re drastically improving the efficiency of your heater and air conditioner. This is how you can substantially lower your heating and electric bills. If you haven’t had your ducts sealed in the past year or two, call Comfort Flow Heating. We provide duct sealing services throughout Salem, OR.

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How Does Duct Sealing Help with Heating?

Friday, November 14th, 2014

Without ductwork, the warm air from your heating system doesn’t reach your living spaces. With faulty ductwork, you run the same risk. Why? Air loss can be significant with faulty ductwork, resulting in heat not reaching your living spaces. Ductwork is pretty durable, with an average lifespan of 30+ years, but your ductwork can sustain damage and corrosion just as any other part of your system. One of the best ways to restore your ductwork and improve heating is to schedule professional duct sealing. Duct sealing involves a lot more than placing a piece of duct tape over a crack or hole; this is why it’s important to hire professionals. For more than 50 years, Comfort Flow Heating has helped customers with their heating systems, so call us today!

What Is Duct Sealing?

When a trained professional performs duct sealing, the first step he/she will take is to fully inspect your ductwork. This helps the technician assess the areas that need sealing. Once the areas are identified, sealing can begin. To seal cracks and holes, a fibrous adhesive called mastic is applied to the damaged area. While the mastic is still wet, a piece of foil or fiberglass tape is put on top of the mastic to help secure the bond. When the mastic dries, a hard seal is formed. Sealing disconnections is a little different. First, the two ends that have become separated are joined and covered in mastic. A metal binding is wrapped around the area and secured with sheet metal nails. Once the mastic dries, the area is re-sealed.

How Does Duct Sealing Help With Heating?

  • Better energy efficiency – significantly reducing the air loss from faulty ductwork helps increase your home’s energy efficiency.
  • Better comfort – uneven heating is one of the telltale signs of faulty ductwork. Sealing your ducts allows your system to heat more evenly, reducing the occurrence of hot and cold spots.
  • Less wear on your system – when your system operates with significant heat loss, your heater compensates for this loss by working harder. This can result in more wear on your system.

Faulty ductwork can be a strain your system and on your wallet. If your heating is being affected by faulty ductwork, call Comfort Flow Heating today and schedule your heating service in Eugene with one of our HVAC experts.

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Why Schedule Professional Duct Sealing?

Friday, September 5th, 2014

Ductwork can break down just like any other part of your air conditioning system in Eugene, and the results can cost you money every month in your utility bills. One of the best ways to reduce the problems caused by faulty ductwork is to schedule professional duct sealing. Since 1961, Comfort Flow Heating has helped multiple customers throughout the Eugene area with ductwork installation, repair and replacement, and we can help you with your ductwork.

What Is Duct Sealing?

Duct sealing entails repairing the holes and cracks that can develop in ductwork over time, as well as sealing connections together with metal binding. To properly seal ducts, your technician will use a substance called mastic coupled with either fiberglass or foil tape. Mastic is an adhesive that is also a very strong bonding agent. When sealing holes or cracks in your ductwork, the technician will spread mastic over the faulty area, then lay tape over the mastic. The mastic needs a period of time to cure, during which it hardens into a permanent seal. This procedure is done for all holes and cracks in your ductwork.

When sealing connections, the technician will brush mastic onto the ends of the two pieces of ductwork that are coming together, then wrap a piece of metal binding around them, connecting the two ends together. The binding is secured with sheet metal screws, and the mastic will harden, creating an air-tight seal between the two pieces.

What Are the Benefits of Duct Sealing?

There are several important benefits to duct sealing:

  • Significant reduction of air loss – one of the biggest problems with faulty ductwork is the rate at which air is lost. It is estimated that up to 30% of your total air loss can be attributed to faulty ductwork. By sealing the holes and cracks, you can restore your air flow.
  • Better energy efficiency – when your system loses air, your air conditioner has to work harder to recoup the loss; this puts stress on your AC. Anytime your air conditioner is stressed, it uses more energy to operate.
  • Better indoor air quality – different kinds of particles and fumes can enter your air flow directly through the holes and cracks in your ductwork; this can reduce your indoor air quality.

Duct sealing can provide you and your air conditioning system with a lot of benefits, but only if it’s done correctly. This is why it’s important to always hire trained professionals for any kind of work on your air conditioning. If you are interested in scheduling duct sealing in Eugene, call Comfort Flow Heating today.

 

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Salem OR Furnace Tip: Air Duct Tips That Help Improve Furnace Performance

Monday, April 8th, 2013

You rely on your Salem, OR furnace to keep you warm and comfortable throughout the heating season. Improving furnace performance requires ensuring that all the components and mechanisms are working together, including the extensive ductwork that brings heated air throughout your home. If you’re looking to improve your furnace performance, then you cannot neglect your air ducts, which, when faulty or damaged, can be responsibly for up to a third of your heating loss. We’ve compiled a list of air duct tips that we think may help your home heating system. For more information about how your ductwork impacts your energy efficiency, or to schedule a Salem furnace service, call the experts at Comfort Flow Heating today!

  • Seal air leaks. Schedule a professional duct sealing service in order to eliminate any air leaks in your ductwork. Air leaks not only reduce heated airflow, they also cause your system to work harder, thus increasing the amount of energy consumed. It’s important to take care of any air leaks promptly so that they do not affect your heating system. Despite its name, duct tape is not recommended, so make sure to hire a pro for professional mastic sealing.
  • Clean your ducts. Routine duct cleaning ensures that your heated air is unobstructed in its flow from air handler to living space. Over time, your ducts can accumulate dust, mold, and other debris, inhibiting airflow and reducing the quality of your indoor air. By having your ductwork regularly inspected and cleaned, you can ensure that your ducts do not get in the way of your high efficiency heater.
  • Duct insulation. Talk to your local professional about whether duct insulation would be right for your home. If your ductwork runs through your attic, crawlspace or basement, it may be subject to heat loss when it comes into contact with unheated spaces. Also, make sure that your home is properly insulated (especially the attic) to maximize your heating performance.

An effective and efficient furnace is paramount during the heating season. Make sure your home is warm and comfortable by scheduling a duct inspection, cleaning, or sealing. For Salem, OR furnace services, call Comfort Flow Heating today!

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Springfield, OR Heating FAQ: Is It Time for a New Heating System?

Monday, October 15th, 2012

Comfort Flow has been providing Springfield, OR heating services to customers throughout the area since 1961. That’s why customers trust us to help them with all their heating needs, including heating repairs, maintenance, and replacement services. If you aren’t sure whether or not it’s time for a new heating system, give us a call any time.

Meanwhile, here are a few questions to ask as you consider replacing your old heater with a new heating system:

Does your old heater cost too much to operate?

While your old heater may have given you many years of uninterrupted service, you could be paying more than you need to in heating bills. Upgrading to a high-efficiency system, or a heating system that runs on renewable energy, such as a geothermal heat pump system, could dramatically reduce your heating costs. However, it is important to keep in mind that there are other factors to consider before choosing to upgrade.

Does your current heating system need frequent or costly repairs?

If you are paying more money in repair costs than you normally would, it may be time for a heating replacement. We offer an energy savings agreement to help with the cost of preventive maintenance for your new heating system to help prevent repair needs, but eventually all heating systems will need to be replaced. Having to pay a large amount for a heating repair is another reason homeowners choose to replace their heating systems instead of repairing them.

Do you have hot or cold spots in your home?

While hot or cold spots in the home may just require a duct sealing service, inconsistent temperatures in your home could also indicate that it is time for a new heating system. Keep in mind that there are other factors to consider. These include the condition of other supporting equipment, the type and number of thermostats you have in your home, the level of insulation, and how well your home is sealed.

Does your heating system break down often?

If your heating system breaks down often, it could be due to age, improper installation, poor maintenance, or a number of other issues. In any case, frequent equipment failure is not only costly, but it leaves you without heat during the colder months of the year. It may be a more cost-effective decision to replace your heater with a new system, in addition to ensuring your comfort throughout the heating season.

Call the Springfield, OR heating experts at Comfort Flow if you would like to set up a consultation.

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