Interior attic AC Condensation

19 years ago

Sweating Ducts on a Central AC Unit... They have ruined my ceiling drywall in several areas. I thought that it was due to a leaking roof, but was told by my AC service that my attic was too cool.??? The air handler is not in the attic only the ducts and coolant line are. I have a white tile roof in South Florida...I thought keeping the attic cooler was a good thing. I was told that closing off soffet vents would help to raise the temp in the attic. Is there some truth to this?

Thank you,

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Comments (4)

davidandkasie
19 years ago
the ducts are sweating due to condensation. either they are not insulated or you have air leaks, probably teh latter from the description. just being noninsulated it would not cool the attic, but an air leak will. you would be surprised at how a small leak can dump lots of cold air into the attic. my plenum has developed a leak between it and the air handler, and it cools the attic rather well, even though the leak is less than 1/8" wide and only a couple inches long. i found it this weekend, and as soon as i can pick up some more mastic i will seal it back up.

DO NOT use duct tape to seal the ducts, use metal tape or mastic designed for duct work. duct tape will release and the leaks will come right back.
annajax
19 years ago
I live in N. Florida and also have damaged ceiling drywall in one room. An AC technician said all the ceilings would have to be torn out so that the ducts could be rewrapped. There is no attic crawl space. Can the ceiling drywall be cut out in just the damaged place and the leak be fixed that way? It just doesn't make sense to tear out all the ceilings in the whole house. Who does this kind of work?
I appreciate whatever advice you can give me. Thanks.
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davidandkasie
19 years ago
it depends on how your ceiling is finished. if it is plastered, you may not get the replaced sections to match the rest. if it is smooth or a light popcorn, then you can get them to match pretty easily and should cut out only what is necessary.
energy_rater_la
19 years ago
are your ducts strapped up with duct strapping or lying on attic flooring with insulation around or under them?

Strapping ducts up & out of insulation will keep condensation from forming when ducts reach dewpoint.