Last summer, I had a lot of complaints about the operation of the air conditioner.
It seemed to run just about non stop and yet the house felt slightly overheated. Certain rooms were especially hot and sticky. The air coming from the vents had a musty smell, and there was an excessive amount of dust and allergens circulating in the air. My monthly energy bills were much higher than normal. When I noticed that my kids started to sneeze every time the air conditioner ran and realized that I was constantly suffering from headaches, I scheduled professional repair. The technician inspected the inner workings of the AC and found no problems. I am conscientious about replacing air filters and arranging seasonal maintenance for the cooling unit. The technician then tested the ductwork and discovered that approximately twenty percent of the cooled air was leaking out through holes and gaps at the seams. He explained that these flaws in the ductwork were also drawing in contaminants and spreading them throughout the house. Because the maximum amount of cooled air wasn’t reaching the intended destination, the air conditioner was forced to work harder and longer. The technician recommended duct sealing. I was a bit worried that the service would require cutting holes in walls and ceilings to access the concealed pipes. However, the technician used a process called Aeroseal that fixes ductwork imperfections from the inside. It involves sending highly pressurized air laced with polymer particles into the duct system. These particles are adhesive and stick to edges of the various holes as the air escapes. They steadily build up to form a tight seal.