Do you ever drive around on a hot day with your windows down and air conditioner going full blast? Not for long, eh? Why do I ask? Because that’s what it’s like if you’re air conditioning your attic. But you say, “Why would I air condition my attic?”
Many people are blowing cold air into their attic, and they don’t even know it! How do I know? Because I see it all the time! And it’s easy to fix! And now you ask, “How would I be air conditioning my attic?” I’m glad you asked …
The majority of the central HVAC systems in our area have the furnace, evaporator core, plenum, and ductwork installed in the attic. The ducts are attached to the plenum and then to the air registers in the rooms throughout your house. The plenum is attached to the evaporator core, the evaporator core is attached to the furnace and blower, and there may be a media filter installed too. All of these connections need to be sealed!
There are MANY places where air leakage can occur in your HVAC system. As an inspector, I see many seams, cabinets, and ducts that are leaking profusely and all of the cold air (or hot air) is not getting to the rooms in the house, but is cooling the attic. This is a waste of energy! It’s costing you more money than you should be paying, and you’re not getting the comfort you should be getting in your home. You may be surprised how much condensation is dripping all around your ducts and plenum. You may even have mold covering the cabinet and ducts.
Take a trip up into your attic and feel around the duct connections and the plenum. Check the evaporator core connection to the plenum, especially underneath or in a hard to reach area. Do you feel air leaking anywhere? If it’s hard to reach, it’s not uncommon for an HVAC technician to not seal it up adequately.
To seal it up, google the subject “How to Repair Air Leaks in Ductwork” (or something similar) on the internet and watch a video or two … there are plenty. You’ll need some aluminum tape and some mastic … and maybe some large zip ties. Also, please be careful up in the attic … some units are not very accessible, the work area around your mechanical equipment may be hazardous, and attics can be very hot, depending on the outside temperature and the attic ventilation.
It can be a messy, sweaty, and frustrating job, but it’s worth doing! You may just wish to hire a qualified handyman or HVAC technician to do the job. Whatever you do, make sure that you’re not air conditioning your attic. Be comfortable my friends.
