Last summer, I had a long list of complaints with my air conditioner.
Although the system continued to operate, it was running for much longer cycles and failing to keep up with demand.
There was very inconsistent temperature from one room to another. It was no longer handling humidity or living up to our comfort expectations. Plus, the operation was noisy and produced a musty odor and significant amount of dust. My monthly energy bills were much higher than normal. I finally scheduled air conditioner repair from a local HVAC contractor. The technician first inspected all of the cooling components. He found a small amount of dust accumulation within the inner workings but nothing serious. He then tested the ductwork and found that approximately twenty-five percent of the conditioned air was escaping through imperfections. There were cracks at the seams and small holes throughout the system. Because the ductwork is largely installed behind the walls, ceilings and in the crawl space, I had no idea how this problem could be fixed without major construction and mess. The technician explained the Aeroseal duct sealing process. First, the supply and return vents are blocked off. A machine is hooked up to the ductwork to then send highly pressurized air through the system. This air contains adhesive, non-toxic, polymer particles and cling to the edges of the gaps and holes as the air leaks out. The particles cling to each other as well, steadily forming an airtight seal. The procedure took several hours. Afterward, the technician again tested the duct performance and verified the successful results. The Aeroseal service is guaranteed for ten years. It made a huge improvement in the operation of the air conditioner and helped to lower my utility costs.