The Impact of Leaky Ducts on Your Bryant HVAC System

In Colorado, where our winters are bone-chilling, and our summers increasingly demand high-performance cooling, a Bryant system is the gold standard of HVAC equipment.

But even a Bryant heating and cooling unit can’t deliver a top-level performance when hampered by leaky ductwork. 

According to ENERGY STAR®, a typical home loses 20 to 30 percent of the air that moves through its ductwork. The air escapes through holes, cracks, and poor connections, which can undermine HVAC performance.   

At Bryant Colorado, we refer homeowners in Fort Collins, Greater Denver, Colorado Springs, and surrounding areas to local Bryant dealers who specialize in keeping ductwork efficient. Our online Bryant Colorado directory puts dozens of dealership profiles and contact information at your fingertips. Bryant dealers uphold strict training criteria and business ethics while delivering expert repairs, maintenance, and HVAC installations. 

If you suspect you have leaky air ducts, a Bryant dealer can assess your HVAC system and ductwork to eliminate the leaks, or, if your ducts are beyond repair, replace them. 

Now that you know the impact of leaky ductwork, how can you tell if your home is affected?

5 Signs Your Colorado Home Has Leaky Ductwork

Fortunately, there are numerous red flags that can alert you to potential leaks: 

  1. High Utility Bills: Your bills have spiked even though usage has not increased.
  1. Noisy Airflow: Vents whistle or rattle, signaling air loss through cracks or loose connections. 
  1. Visible Signs: Your flexible ducts are kinked, or your metal ductwork seams are taped with old, peeling materials. 
  1. Room Temps and the Thermostat: The thermostat says 72°F, but some rooms feel much colder. Leaky ducts prevent conditioned air from reaching the furthest points of your home, resulting in hot and cold spots throughout your living space. 
  1. More Dust: You notice more dust than usual on surfaces, even though you clean regularly.

If you see any of these signs, call a Bryant professional for duct inspection and diagnosis. 

How Leaky Ducts Undermine Your HVAC Unit

Bryant systems need specific static pressure and airflow. Duct holes, cracks, or disconnections disrupt this balance.

Your high-efficiency Bryant furnace suddenly seems like a budget-grade unit as much of the heat it produces escapes into your attic, crawlspace, or inside your walls. It must run longer and cycle more frequently to reach the temperature set on your thermostat. This leads to unnecessary wear and tear and skyrocketing utility bills.

Protecting your air ducts safeguards your Bryant warranty and investment. 

Leaky Ducts Reduce Air Quality

In Colorado, we deal with dry air, seasonal wildfire smoke, and high pollen counts. When your return air ducts leak, they act like a vacuum, pulling in air from the surrounding area. The unconditioned air may be filled with dust, insulation fibers, mold spores, and outdoor pollutants, such as particulate matter from smoke.

Your Bryant system then circulates these contaminants throughout your entire home. If you feel like you’re dusting your furniture every two days, your air ducts are likely the culprit.

Duct sealing improves indoor air quality (IAQ) by creating a closed-loop system that prevents contaminants from entering your environment.  It ensures the air you breathe does not come from a dusty attic or a damp crawlspace.

How Does Duct Sealing Work?

Duct sealing is the process of eliminating gaps, tears, and loose connections in your ductwork.

If you decide to seal air ducts yourself, remove duct tape from your toolbox. Professional Bryant dealer technicians don’t use duct tape in sealing ducts, and you shouldn’t either. It is one of the worst materials for sealing ducts because the adhesive dries out and fails under heat. 

If you take this on as a do-it-yourself (DIY) project, you likely will reach only a portion of your ductwork. Use either duct sealer or metal tape on holes and cracks in air ducts you can easily access.

ENERGY STAR® also recommends sealing connections at vents and registers where they meet the floors, walls, and ceilings.

How Bryant Dealers Seal Air Ducts

The experts listed in our Bryant Colorado directory use professional-grade methods and materials to restore your system:

Mastic Sealing: This thick, pasty substance hardens into a flexible seal over joints and seams. Bryant dealer professionals apply this material by hand on accessible ducts. 

Aeroseal Technology: This revolutionary process seals even inaccessible ductwork. A technician sprays a non-toxic, aerosolized sealant into your air ducts. The sealant particles automatically find and plug leaks from the inside out.

Our Bryant Colorado directory members seal your ductwork quickly and professionally—so you don’t have to lift a finger. 

Hire a Bryant Dealer to Fix Your Leaky Ducts

At Bryant Colorado, we know that a whole-home approach is the only way to achieve true efficiency. Installing a world-class Bryant furnace or AC is only step one. Ensuring that the air actually reaches your family is step two.

The HVAC dealers in our directory are airflow specialists. They have the diagnostic tools—including infrared cameras and blower door tests—to pinpoint exactly where air is escaping from your heating and cooling system and its ductwork. Sealing your ducts helps your Bryant system perform exactly as the engineers intended: quietly, efficiently, and reliably.

Let A Bryant Dealer Check Your Ducts Today

Don’t let your comfort leak away. Visit our Bryant Colorado Dealer Directory to find an expert team near you. Professional duct sealing will restore comfort and air quality, while bringing your energy bills back under control. Click our online link to get started today.