If you’ve ever noticed a leak or hole in your ducts and thought, “I’ll just slap some duct tape on it!” we won’t blame you. After all, it’s in the name, isn’t it?

Unfortunately, names can be misleading. While duct tape might be great for fixing cracked plastic or a split in your office chair, it’s not something you should use on your ducts. Read on to learn what you should do instead.

Can You Use Duct Tape on Ductwork?

No, and here’s why. Despite the name, duct tape is not rated for use on your ducts. Even though duct tape is incredibly strong and flexible (perfect for its original use by the military), it’s missing one critical component of air duct sealing tape: Duct tape is not heat resistant.

Any tape that goes on your air ducts needs to be able to withstand temperature fluctuations. If you’ve ever accidentally left a roll of duct tape out on a hot day, you know how goopy and sticky the adhesive can get in the heat. Left out in the sun more than once? That adhesive starts to fail. In fact, when a Berkeley lab tested 19 sealants in fluctuating temperatures over three months, duct tape was the only one that didn’t hold up. According to the researchers, duct tape “failed reliably and often quite catastrophically.” Now just imagine that as your heat kicks on in the Loveland winter!

In fact, if your ductwork has duct tape on it from a previous owner, you should call the HVAC experts for duct repair. There could be a leak or other damage underneath the tape that was never properly addressed.

Can I Use Duct Tape for HVAC Appliances?

No, there’s no such thing as air conditioning duct tape or furnace duct tape that functions properly. Just as with your ducts, any patches on your HVAC need to be able to withstand extreme temperatures. Even more important, though, is that a simple tape job isn’t enough to solve most HVAC problems. Surface-level damage could indicate something is wrong inside the machine. If you notice damage that has you reaching for sealing tape, call a technician for AC repair or furnace repair instead.

What You Can Use to Patch a Leak: HVAC Tape vs. Duct Tape

Even though duct tape’s no good for a quick repair, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck doing nothing while you wait for a pro to fix the problem. Here’s what to use to seal ductwork instead: air duct aluminum foil tape!

When it comes to HVAC foil tape vs. duct tape, there’s no contest. Foil-backed tape has the heat resistance to stand up to your furnace on full blast, and the adhesive won’t degrade as your ductwork heats up. You should always schedule professional duct repair when you notice a leak. After all, a patch is just that: a patch. It doesn’t solve the problem; it merely covers it up for a while. But aluminum sealing tape is a great stopgap measure while you wait for your appointment to roll around.

Tape for Air Ducts Is Temporary: Call an HVAC Pro for a Lasting Solution

We know you want to get any air duct leaks sealed up as soon as you find them, but noticeable leaks are usually too large for duct sealing tape. Enter One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning of Loveland! Our technicians can come to your home in Johnstown, Windsor, Brighton, and the surrounding area to permanently fix your ductwork leaks. We can even replace badly damaged sections of ductwork, so you’re not trusting your comfort to faulty equipment. Call us at (970) 822-0413 or book online to fix your leaking air ducts.