Barrier Insulation offers professional mastic duct sealing to the Phoenix metro area. Leaks exist in virtually every residential duct system. These leaks lead to pressure imbalances between rooms in the home, and wasted energy. Sealing up these leaks reduces energy costs. There are different ways to seal up these leaks. Tape and mastic sealants are two ways of sealing the ducts. Homeowners need to know, is tape or mastic better for duct sealing?
Mastic Duct Sealing
Quality contractors use mastic to seal up the joints in the duct work. After the sheet metal that makes up the ducts is secured with screws mastic is applied to the joints. Mastic’s consistency is a bit like mayo. This means it can penetrate the smaller areas in the duct joints. Corrugated duct materials get a better seal when the mastic can fill up the small gaps. Mastic goes on gooey and never hardens.
Mastic can seal up larger gaps or plenums. For gaps over an eighth in size by first covering them with fiberglass mesh tape and then applying the mastic material. Fiberglass board ductwork requires the use of fiberglass mesh tape at all the joint points. For sheet metal fiberglass mesh tape is only necessary for larger gaps.
Duct Tape Sealing
While the name suggests duct tape would be the best for ducts it doesn’t perform as well as mastic. Duct tape has a tendency to quickly fail on duct work. Duct tape is susceptible to adhesion failure due to dusty attic conditions. It also fails under heat application. The adhesive becomes warm and pliable which causes the tape to peel away and allow leaks.
Duct tape is easier to apply, especially in some awkward duct sealing situations. For instance it is difficult to apply on clamped flex joints. While there are codes stating that duct tape is not sufficient for modern building standards, it is rarely enforced by building inspectors. The inspector’s primary concern is the quality and safety of the build. Leaky ducts are the concern of the homeowner, because it will affect the energy costs of heating and cooling the home every year.
Deciding Between Mastic and Tape
Deciding which duct-sealing products can be tricky. All duct sealing products have their own advantages and disadvantages. Depending on the condition of your ducts and if they were installed properly a qualified and profession duct or insulation professional can help you decide what combination is best for your particular home and duct system. Duct tape usually needs a clamp system to be effective and durable. The adhesive alone isn’t enough to hold the sections together. Mastic isn’t a structural fastener. Mastic works best when the ducts are joined with sheet metal screws first, and then the mastic sealant is applied.
Because of the dusty environments ducts are usually found in it is all but impossible to have a clean surface when sealing ducts. This is where mastic has a huge advantage. The surface of the ducts need not be clean when applied. While a clean surface aids either sealing system mastic is more effective even if there is some dust in the attic and on the ducts.
Larger holes need to be fixed with scrap metal and sealed up. If these areas are in the air handler or furnace duct tape is preferable because it allows access.
Phoenix Mastic Duct Sealing by Barrier Insulation
Our job is to reduce your energy costs any way we can. We do this by removing old insulation, installing or upgrading insulation, and duct sealing. This means there is less heat in the house to begin with, and you’re getting the most out of your air conditioning. Call us today to find out the various ways we can help improve your home’s energy efficiency and lower your bills.
Barrier Insulation – 602-499-2922 or 923-931-0637