If you read the title of this posts and the words duct tape immediately came to mind, we’re not surprised. After all, the word “duct” is right in the name. However, duct tape is not designed for ducts. (Actually, it was originally known as duck tape, possibly because duck cloth was used to back it.) Laboratory tests done on duct tape have revealed that it rapidly fails when exposed to the temperature extremes inside a ventilation system and loses its adhesive ability.

Professional duct repair technicians use different tools to close off leaks in ventilation shafts. When you have ductwork with breaks that are affecting your HVAC system’s efficiency and lowering indoor air quality, call for experts with the right equipment to handle the job.

For your duct sealing in Duluth, MN, look to Alpha Air Corporation. We offer many services to protect your indoor air quality and keep your ventilation system in prime shape.

The tools of professional duct sealing

Along with replacement duct material for larger jobs (ductboard, flexible ducts), professionals principally use two tools to close leaks: mastic sealant and metallic tapes.

• Mastic sealant: This resin-based adhesive can stick to many different surfaces—metal, glass, plastic, ductboard—and dries quickly with a smooth surface to reduce air resistance. Many duct repair technicians favor mastic sealant because it remains flexible even after it dries, and this is helpful for ducts because they expand and contract as the temperature inside them changes. Mastic is also resistant to temperature extremes, making it far superior to brittle duct tape. Duct sealers use a caulking gun to apply mastic onto duct leaks.
• Metallic tape: There is a type of “duct tape” that professionals use, but it’s nothing like the soft cloth-backed duct tape you find in stores. Tapes made from a variety of metals are a popular choice in duct sealing; some professionals prefer them to mastic sealant. The metallic tapes are effective mechanical fasteners and have high durability, often outlasting mastic sealant. These tapes are usually made from aluminum with an acrylic or butyl adhesive.

For service on your ventilation system, you should rely only on National Air Duct Cleaners of America-certified technicians (NADCA), like those at Alpha Air Corporation. We offer 24-hour emergency service for when you need us, and we will bring the best equipment available to assist us in doing the best job possible for duct sealing in Duluth, MN.