If the air duct in your air conditioner is leaking, your home will not be cooled as quickly. An air conditioner with a leaky air duct will force you to keep your ac unit running more than necessary which may leave you calling an ac repairman in the end. Also with temperatures this summer reaching record-highs, the cost of your electric bill will skyrocket. Additionally, dust particles and other contaminants can leak into the duct work and shorten the life of the air conditioning unit while causing allergies to flare up and possibly even illness. The good news is, if you can get to your ducts, you can fix them.
You will need: Spray adhesive, metal foil tape, a squeegee
Remember: Turn the unit off before you begin your work and be careful! This can be a
messy job.
1. Find the location of the damage
Solid ducts don’t usually get punctured in the middle, but instead come apart at the ends (where
they are joined to another section). If the duct is loose, push it into the connection.
2. Clean the Affected Area
Using a dry or damp cloth, wipe down the area where you will be working. It doesn’t have to be spotless, but your seal will be more durable if you get rid of dust and other particles.
3. Reattach the Duct
Apply a spray adhesive to the area where you are going to be placing the tape and give it a few minutes to get tacky. You should be able to use the duct’s existing tape by pressing it onto the spray adhesive.
4. Cover the Patch
Peel back the paper from the metal foil tape and use it to cover the area you have just glued. Use the squeegee to seal the metal foil tape onto the air duct, make sure there are no air pockets.
Wait a few hours for your work to dry and then turn the unit back on. Feel around the new patch and make sure air is no longer escaping.
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