Many homeowners are surprised to learn how much of their heating and cooling system’s energy can be lost before it even reaches a single room. If your energy bills are higher than they should be, or some rooms feel too hot or too cold, leaky ducts could be to blame. Duct sealing is one of the most effective ways to fix leaky air ducts, improve airflow, and make sure your HVAC system performs at its best.
In this blog from Doc Dancer Plumbing, Heating, AC & Generators, we’ll walk through how to identify duct leaks, why sealing ducts matters, and the most advanced methods for solving the problem once and for all.
Why Leaky Ducts Are a Bigger Deal Than You May Think
Your duct system is responsible for carrying conditioned air—whether hot or cold—from your heating and cooling equipment to each living space in your home. When that ductwork has cracks, gaps, or poorly connected seams, a large portion of that air gets lost along the way.
Here’s what that means for you:
- Wasted energy as your system works harder to push air through leaks.
- Increased wear and tear on your furnace or air conditioner.
- Reduced indoor comfort, with uneven temperatures throughout your home.
- Higher energy bills month after month.
- Worse indoor air quality, as dust, allergens, or insulation particles from attics or crawl spaces get pulled in.
Even brand-new systems can be held back by duct leakage if the ductwork wasn’t properly sealed during installation. And older homes? Leaky ductwork is practically a guarantee.
Signs You Have Air Duct Leaks
If you’re reading up on leaky ductwork, chances are something’s not quite right with the way your home feels—or with your energy bills. Many homeowners start digging into duct sealing because they’ve noticed uneven temperatures, poor airflow, or rising utility costs without a clear reason. And it makes sense: most of your duct system is tucked away in attics, walls, ceilings, or crawl spaces, so it’s not always easy to spot a problem.
Still, your house might be telling you something. To confirm whether you’re dealing with duct leaks, ask yourself:
- Are some rooms always too hot or cold?
- Is there a constant buildup of dust around vents or in your living space?
- Do you hear whistling or hissing from behind the walls when your heating and cooling equipment runs?
- Are your energy bills climbing, even though your usage hasn’t changed?
- Does the airflow from your supply vents feel weak?
- Is there a musty smell coming from the ductwork?
If you said yes to any of these, your system could be leaking air and wasting energy. A thorough inspection by an HVAC professional is the first step toward getting your system properly sealed—and your home’s comfort and efficiency back on track.
How to Seal Air Ducts to Stop Leaks
A lot of people try to fix leaky air ducts with duct tape or foil tape, but these materials won’t hold up. Believe it or not, regular duct tape isn’t actually meant for ducts—it can dry out, peel off, and even cover up bigger problems.
Professional HVAC contractors use better options, like mastic sealant, which is a thick, glue-like paste that seals cracks and hardens for a lasting fix, or special heat-rated metal tape that can handle the temperatures inside your system. For hard-to-reach spots, there are high-tech solutions like Aeroseal and Duct Armor that work from the inside of your ducts without having to cut into walls or ceilings.
Before sealing anything, an HVAC technician will test your system to see how much air is leaking and find exactly where the problems are. Once the sealing is done, they’ll test again to make sure your ducts are tight and your airflow is back where it should be.
Air Duct Sealing Solutions from Doc Dancer
At Doc Dancer Plumbing, Heating, AC & Generators, we’re a local, highly experienced HVAC company serving the Fort Wayne area since 1946, and we’ve long seen what leaking ducts can do: energy loss, uneven comfort, and higher bills.
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates homes can lose 20–30% of airflow through leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts—often hidden in inaccessible areas behind walls, above the ceiling, or in crawl spaces where aging duct material, loose connections, or blocked runs waste conditioned air.
To solve this, we offer two proven air duct sealing methods—Duct Armor and Aeroseal—each designed for different ductwork needs.
Duct Armor Duct Sealing
Duct Armor is a duct sealing process that adds years of life to aging or damaged ductwork—ideal for systems with corrosion, rust, or heavy buildup inside. It lines the entire interior with a safe, rubberized coating, sealing gaps and creating a smooth, clean surface.
How it works:
- Your duct system is inspected to assess corrosion, rust, and debris levels.
- The ducts are cleaned to remove loose dirt, rust flakes, and buildup.
- A thick, rubberized coating is applied to the interior walls.
- The coating seals cracks, pinholes, and gaps, and prevents further corrosion.
- The result is a smooth, airtight interior that improves airflow and indoor air quality.
Duct Armor is ideal if:
- Your ducts are made of metal and have rust or corrosion.
- You have underground ductwork that’s hard to access.
- There’s visible debris or deterioration inside your ducts.
- You want to improve air quality by keeping dust and moisture out.
By essentially “relining” your ducts from the inside, Duct Armor can extend the life of your system and make your HVAC equipment have more energy efficiency—without tearing into walls, ceilings, or floors.
Aeroseal Duct Sealing
Aeroseal is a high-tech solution for sealing leaks from the inside out—perfect for duct systems that are in good shape overall but have gaps or cracks you can’t easily access.
How it works:
- We pressurize your duct system to locate leaks.
- A non-toxic sealant is blown into the ducts.
- The sealant particles stick only where air is escaping, sealing holes up to ⅝ of an inch.
- Your airflow is tested again to confirm the leaks are fixed.
Aeroseal is ideal if:
- Your ducts run through finished walls, ceilings, or tight crawl spaces.
- You want to seal leaks without major construction or demolition.
- You’ve noticed uneven heating or cooling and higher utility bills.
Many homeowners see an immediate difference in comfort and a noticeable drop in energy costs after Aeroseal is applied.
Whether your ducts need a complete resurfacing with Duct Armor or a more precise seal with Aeroseal, Doc Dancer will test your system, explain your options, and make sure your ducts are sealed for better comfort, cleaner air, and lower bills.
Call Doc Dancer to Inspect and Fix Your Leaky Air Ducts with Duct Sealing Today
You don’t have to just live with leaky air ducts and accept the higher bills or uneven comfort as “normal.” There’s a better way—and it starts with taking action. Doc Dancer’s duct sealing services in Fort Wayne are designed to tackle the problem head-on, making your air duct system work the way it should. Our team uses proven methods like Aeroseal and Duct Armor duct sealing to seal leaks and restore your home’s efficiency and comfort.
Contact us today for a quote. Don’t settle for less when you can have a home that performs at its best!