Air Duct Leaking?
Question:In my kitchen, I can feel cool air (when the air conditioner is on and blowing) coming out by the baseboard molding. There is no vent nearby except one directly underneath in the basement ceiling (blowing into the basement obviously). I am assuming somehow the ductwork underneath is not air tight thus forcing cool air out through the baseboards in the kitchen. This is a brand new house. Should this be happening and would it cause a problem if left like it is? I am worried about long term condensation or what not. Any advice would be great!
Answers:
if the duct in the basement is exposed check it, you will feel air leaking if that is in fact where it is coming from. If you do find a leak...they sell a product called DP1010 or DP1020 at HVAC mom and pop shops ( sometimes you can find it at home depot.) It is also known as "Pookie". It is a sealant used on duct work and will help seal the duct sufficiently. If the duct work is not exposed you might need to have a HVAC guy come out, and do a pressure test for you, he will be able to tell you if it is a leak or a a draft due to your baseboards not being sealed up tight enough. Might want to try and seal that off as well with a caulk. Good Luck;)
Is the basement door closed? The pressure in the basement could be higher than that in the kitchen and air has found a way to escape if there is no return air in the basement and I doubt there is. Then again you might be right. The duct might be leaking. The air from a refridgerated air conditioner should be dry, cool air and there should be no moisture in it. The air conditioner works by removing moisture. A leaky duct can be fixed with silver duct tape.
More Related Questions & Answers...