What to Expect During Air Duct Sealing in Orlando
Leaking ducts waste conditioned air before it reaches your rooms. Here is exactly what happens during a professional duct sealing visit, from the first inspection to the final pressure test.
Ducts Lose Air You Already Paid to Condition
In Florida homes, ductwork typically runs through attics that regularly hit 130 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. At those temperatures, small gaps at joints and seams open wider over time. The air your system works hard to cool at 74 degrees simply escapes into the attic before reaching your bedrooms.
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The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the average home loses 20 to 30 percent of conditioned air through duct leaks. In older Central Florida construction, that number can be higher. Your air handler runs longer, your electric bill climbs, and some rooms stay stuffy no matter how low you set the thermostat.
Sealing those leaks is one of the most direct ways to cut cooling costs and improve the air quality in your living spaces. It is not a luxury repair. For many Orlando homeowners, it pays for itself through energy savings within a few years.
Learn about our air duct sealing services →Common Signs Your Ducts Are Leaking
- ✓Rooms that never cool down, even with the AC running constantly
- ✓Noticeably higher electric bills compared to similar-sized homes nearby
- ✓Dusty supply registers shortly after cleaning them
- ✓Musty smells that come through vents, especially after rain
- ✓Ductwork that is more than 15 years old with no previous sealing work
Source: U.S. Department of Energy. In Florida attics, heat stress on duct joints can push losses higher over time.
energy.gov →If your home has allergy concerns alongside leaky ducts, read our guide on air duct cleaning for allergies in Orlando homes to understand the full picture before booking any service.
What Happens on the Day of Your Appointment
Most duct sealing jobs in an average Central Florida home take between 2 and 4 hours. Larger homes or systems with significant damage take longer. Here is the typical sequence.
Pre-Job Pressure Test
Before any work starts, the technician runs a duct blower door test. This measures exactly how much air your system is losing at rest. The number gives a clear baseline so you can see real, documented improvement after sealing. No guesswork, no vague claims.
Visual Inspection
The technician accesses accessible ductwork in the attic, crawlspace, or closet and looks for disconnected joints, torn flex duct sections, and areas where mastic or tape has failed. In Florida attics, UV exposure and heat cycles break down duct tape much faster than in cooler climates.
Aeroseal or Mastic Application
Two main sealing methods exist. Manual mastic sealing involves brushing a thick, fiber-reinforced compound over joints and seams. Aeroseal technology injects aerosolized sealant particles into the duct system, which then collect and bond at leak points from the inside out. Both have appropriate uses depending on the duct layout and leak location.
Aeroseal vs. Manual Mastic: What Is the Difference?
Aeroseal works well when leaks are scattered throughout the system and impossible to reach by hand, particularly in flex duct runs buried under attic insulation. The process seals holes up to 5/8 inch in diameter from inside the duct. It takes longer to set up but covers the entire system in one pass.
Manual mastic is the right call for large, visible gaps at trunk connections, at the air handler cabinet, or at branch takeoffs. A skilled technician can seal a loose elbow joint faster and more economically with mastic than with an Aeroseal setup.
Most jobs use a combination. Large joints get mastic first. Then Aeroseal catches whatever remains. For Lake Nona-area homes, you can read more about this approach in our Aeroseal duct sealing Lake Nona guide.
What Duct Tape Actually Does (and Does Not Do)
Standard silver duct tape fails in attics within a few years. It is not rated for the temperatures Florida attics reach. The correct material for duct sealing is either UL-181-rated foil tape or mastic sealant, both of which hold up under sustained heat. If your ducts were sealed with hardware-store duct tape, expect to find failed sections.
After Sealing: The Post-Job Test
Once the sealant cures, the technician runs a second pressure test using the same equipment from step one. The two readings are compared side by side. A good sealing job typically reduces duct leakage by 70 to 90 percent, though the actual result depends on how bad the starting condition was and which method was used.
You receive a written report showing before-and-after leakage numbers. This is useful if you ever want to compare energy bills or document the improvement for a home sale.
Should You Clean Ducts Before or After Sealing?
Clean first, seal second. If debris is present inside the ducts, sealing locks it in. Any future cleaning would risk disturbing freshly applied mastic or sealant. The standard professional sequence is a full duct cleaning, followed by the sealing work at the same visit or a separate appointment.
If you are comparing your options, our breakdown of air duct cleaning vs UV light in Orlando homes explains when each service is most useful, and how they work together.
What Happens to Your HVAC During the Aeroseal Process?
The Aeroseal process requires your HVAC system to be off while the equipment runs. Registers are temporarily blocked so pressure builds inside the ductwork. The injected particles travel with the airflow and stick where air is escaping. Most Aeroseal jobs take 4 to 6 hours total, including setup, injection, and cure time.
Your system stays off for roughly 2 to 3 hours during active injection. On a warm Florida day, plan to open windows or be somewhere else during that window.
How Much Does Duct Sealing Cost in Orlando?
Manual mastic sealing on a standard single-story home with accessible ductwork typically runs less than Aeroseal. Aeroseal pricing generally factors in duct system size, leakage level, and setup time. For a detailed breakdown of what affects price, see our Orlando air duct cleaning cost guide.
We offer free estimates on all duct sealing work. Call us at (689) 210-4414 or book online. There is no charge for the initial assessment.
Who Needs Duct Sealing vs. Duct Repair?
Sealing and repair are not the same service. Sealing addresses air leaks at joints, seams, and small holes. Repair involves fixing or replacing physically damaged sections, collapsed flex duct, or disconnected runs. Some homes need both.
If you suspect more serious structural damage to your ductwork, our Orlando air duct repair signs and costs guide walks through the specific symptoms that mean repair rather than sealing.
For homes where ductwork has deteriorated beyond repair, full removal and replacement may be the better investment. Learn what that involves at our air duct removal services page.
Quick Decision Guide
- ●Air leaks at seams/joints: Sealing
- ●Collapsed or torn sections: Repair or replacement
- ●Dirty interior surfaces: Cleaning first, then sealing
- ●System older than 20 years: Full assessment before any service
- ●Allergy concerns alongside leaks: Cleaning + sealing in sequence
Other Services We Provide in Orlando
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does duct sealing last?
Properly applied mastic or Aeroseal sealant is designed to last the remaining life of the duct system. Unlike duct tape, mastic does not dry out or peel from heat. A well-sealed system in good structural condition should not need re-sealing for 10 to 15 years or more.
Can I stay home during the service?
For manual mastic jobs, yes. For Aeroseal, the technician will ask you to keep pets and children away from the work area. The Aeroseal particles are non-toxic, but the equipment is loud and the house needs to stay closed during injection.
Will duct sealing fix uneven cooling?
It depends on the cause. If uneven cooling is due to air leaking into the attic before it reaches far rooms, sealing often helps significantly. If the problem is an undersized system or an air balancing issue, sealing helps but may not fully solve it. A good technician will tell you which situation you have before quoting the work.
Do I need a permit for duct sealing in Orlando?
Duct sealing on existing systems generally does not require a permit in Orange County. Replacing or adding new duct sections may require one. We assess this during the estimate and will advise you if your job requires a permit. The U.S. Department of Energy also has guidance on duct improvements under their home energy efficiency resources.
How do I know if the sealing actually worked?
The before-and-after pressure test is your proof. Numbers do not lie. For Aeroseal jobs, the software generates a printed report with the exact leakage rates before and after. For manual mastic jobs, the post-job blower door test gives you the same comparison in a simpler format.
What industry standards govern duct sealing quality?
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) publishes standards for acceptable duct leakage rates. SMACNA guidelines also cover installation and sealing practices. We follow both when assessing and sealing residential systems.
Ready to Stop Paying for Air That Escapes Into Your Attic?
Call us for a free estimate on duct sealing anywhere in the Orlando metro. We will check your system, tell you exactly what is leaking, and give you a straight quote before any work starts.
Serving Orlando, Winter Park, Lake Nona, and surrounding Central Florida communities.