This is a tip on air handler sealing and why everyone should do it. As a home inspector here in Orlando I can’t tell you how many air handlers we have in the garage and attics. You may be asking yourself “Why would builders do such a crazy thing?” and you would be right. Those are the two worst places you can put one since its in an unconditioned space and outside of the air envelope.
What happens if its outside of the air envelope?
When you put your air handler outside from the conditioned space you run the risk of air leaks. This causes the home’s interior to become depressurized. When a home becomes depressurized it will try and find makeup air to balance itself out. This air usually comes from places you don’t want like wall sockets, recessed lights, fan junction boxes and windows. The air coming in is usually coming from places like the attic, wall cavity and humid outdoor air.
How can this affect my indoor air quality?
Air that comes in through your ceiling penetrations and wall cavity can bring in some nasty stuff! Most attics and walls are filled with fiberglass which can become airborne. There’s always the risk that your attic has mold or animal urine which can bring its own issues. If your air handler is in the garage it can suck in fumes from gas, paint, oil, pesticides and any other chemicals you may have stored. These all can have an affect on a persons health depending on the person and the concentration levels.
What can I do to help fix this?
Fixing these issues is really pretty simple. Something that can easily be done is air handler sealing which takes no time. When these units come from the factory they have covers and holes where the refrigerant & condensate lines go. You can seal any seams up with foil tape. You don’t want to use duct tape as it will just degrade. For the larger gaps I recommend filling them with a duct seal compound. This will help you fill the larger spaces that aren’t easily sealed with the tape. A great tool for finding leaks is a smoke pen.
By ensuring that your hvac system is properly sealed up you can not only save money on your utility bills each month but you can improve your homes indoor air quality. If you would like to schedule your next home inspection with us feel free to contact us here.