Duct tape is an inaccurate name. It’s perfect for patching holes, repairing busted broom handles, sealing holes in your backpack, and holding together folded cardboard boxes – but it’s useless on air ducts. Ensure the right products are being used to seal your leaky ductwork.
When tested at Berkeley Lab to observe the adhesive power of sealants, duct tape failed repeatedly. Despite the name “duct tape,” it is the worst material to be considered for sealing air ducts. There are many reasons why duct tape should never be used to seal air ducts, but before discussing any ducted air conditioning problem, first, let’s understand the meaning of duct tape.
What is duct tape?
Duct tape was invented during WWII. The military used this tape to keep out moisture from ammunition cases. Then it was discovered that there were other various uses of duct tapes; like quick repairs. When the housing industry was growing after the war, civilians used this tape, and some companies sold it as an adhesive tape to link air conditioning and heating ducts. Thus, to match the tape with the type of use, the colors were changed, and thereafter it was named “duct tape.” However, duct tape doesn’t efficiently seal the duct joints in the long haul.
Sealing air ducts with duct tape is expensive
The whole idea of sealing air ducts with duct tape is to prevent air leaks and prevent the increase of your energy bills. If you use duct tapes for sealing the air ducts, you will not save money in the long run. Once the tape’s adhesive material disintegrates, it no longer seals the leaks, and you lose cooled or heated air through these holes.
The International Energy Conservation Code stated that any duct tape used for ductwork does not guarantee long-lasting adhesive performance.
Reasons for not using duct tape for ductwork
Ducts rely on neat and clean seals to work properly. If leaks occur, they will pull in non-conditioned air, making it extremely difficult to achieve and maintain the temperature your office/home needs. This means the HVAC system must spend more energy, resulting in heavy electricity bills. Moreover, leaky ducts may also take in dust particles from the outer system, and then disperse it all through the area. This lessens the quality of air within the rooms, and worsens allergies.
Thus, duct tape is not the excellent choice to do the job correctly. You need professional services to seal your ducts. Heating Experts offer you outstanding services to ensure that the ducts are sealed properly and our technicians never leave your system unprotected from the outside air. We know the correct sealants to use with specific duct systems, and we have the expertise to ensure that the leak is sealed correctly.
Now you understand the short sightedness of using duct tape, call us at 1300 100 040 for professional ducted air conditioning service, repair, or troubleshooting.