replacing ductwork

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by Zildjiank

99% says some dumbass HVAC company told you to replace it. $10K+ for work right?

An HVAC company recommended that to us saying our ductwork was "leaking." Found out after crawling in the attic they had stepped on the ductwork causing massive leakage. I had them fix it for free- replaced my thermostat instead for $60 and fixed a small leak on the front of my unit for $1K. Problem solved. Don't listen to FL contractors, they're the biggest scam here.

In fairness to contractors, the "ductwork" used in Florida that incorporates fiberboard duct, typically in areas where the flexible ducts are distributed from, are often leaky after a few years of service. This is because the tape that is used to seal the seams and joints breaks down and comes loose.

TECO used to have a remediation program where for something like $50-$75 they would have a contractor come in and use mastic to seal all of these joints. It was messy but quick and in a previous house I owned I had it done and did see some increased efficiency as a result.

With this in mind, do something that costs little and will likely yield measurable results: Get some tubes of latex caulk. Go to each room in the house and uncover any and every penetration in the ceiling. HVAC grilles, light fixtures, ceiling fans, etc. Seal each and every one of these penetrations. Around the edges of the ducts, any and every opening, joint or crack in and around electrical boxes, you name it.

I've done this in every house I've owned, and every time it's made a noticeable difference in energy consumption. There is a tremendous amount of leakage of air from the house into the attic space, and that's all wasted energy. It can be even worse if you have an attic fan, as this can create negative pressure in the attic and cause air to be drawn out through these penetrations from the living space.

It can be a major undertaking, so just work on one room at a time. Do one or two a week and in a month or two you'll have them all sealed up. It costs little but the return on investment is significant.

RM