High SEC Bills? How Leaky AC Ducts Are Inflating Your Energy Costs
It is a feeling every homeowner in Saudi Arabia knows all too well. Your phone buzzes with an SMS from the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC). You open it, expecting the usual amount, but instead, you stare at a number that makes your jaw drop.
“How is this possible?” you wonder. “We kept the thermostat at 24°C. We turned off the lights.”
In a desperate bid to save money, many families in the Kingdom start rationing their cooling. They suffer through hot afternoons with the units turned off or close off rooms entirely. But what if I told you that the problem isn’t how much you are using your air conditioner, but rather how much of that expensive, cooled air is actually disappearing before it ever reaches you?
The invisible thief in your home isn’t the AC unit itself—it is your AC ducts.
According to industry studies, the average home with older or poorly installed ductwork loses between 20% to 30% of its conditioned air through leaks, holes, and poor connections. That is the equivalent of buying three bags of groceries and throwing one straight into the trash every single time you shop.
In this guide, we will uncover how leaky ductwork inflates your energy bills and why fixing this hidden infrastructure is the smartest investment you can make for your wallet.
The “Cooling Tax” You Didn’t Know You Were Paying
To understand why leaks are so expensive, we have to look at where your AC ducts typically live.
In most Saudi villas and apartments, the ductwork is installed in the “unconditioned” spaces of the home—usually above the false ceiling, in the attic, or in crawl spaces. During a typical Riyadh summer, temperatures in these enclosed spaces can easily exceed 60°C.
Here is the scenario: Your AC unit works hard to cool air down to a crisp 18°C. It pushes this expensive air into the duct system.
- If you have leaks on the “Supply” side: That precious 18°C air escapes through holes and cools down your super-hot attic. You are literally paying to air-condition the space between your roof and your ceiling.
- If you have leaks on the “Return” side: The system sucks in that 60°C hot, dusty attic air and mixes it with the air inside your home.
The result? Your AC unit has to run twice as long to reach the temperature you set on the thermostat. Every extra minute the compressor runs is adding Riyals to your SEC bill.
Signs Your Ducts Are Leaking
Since AC ducts are usually hidden behind drywall or ceiling tiles, you can’t exactly walk by and see a leak like you would with a dripping water pipe. However, your home gives you subtle clues if you know where to look.
1. High Electricity Bills in “Shoulder” Months
We expect bills to be high in July and August. But if your bill remains suspiciously high in slightly cooler months like October or March, it suggests your system is inefficient. It is struggling to maintain temperature even when the weather isn’t extreme.
2. Excessive Dust
Do you dust your coffee table in the morning, only to write your name in a new layer of grit by the evening? This is a classic sign of “return side” leakage. Your AC ducts are likely sucking in dust from the attic or wall cavities and blasting it all over your furniture. This isn’t just a cleaning annoyance; it’s a sign the system is compromised.
3. Hot and Cold Spots
Walk from your living room to the bedroom. Is there a drastic temperature change? If one room feels like a fridge and another like a sauna, the air intended for the hot room is likely escaping through a tear in the ductwork before it gets there.
Why Do Ducts Leak in the First Place?
You might think, “My house is only 10 years old, surely the ducts are fine?” Unfortunately, that is not always the case. The harsh environment in Saudi Arabia is tough on materials.
- Thermal Expansion: The extreme shift from hot days to cool nights causes the metal and plastic in your AC ducts to expand and contract. Over time, this movement loosens joints and cracks seals.
- Poor Installation: Many contractors use standard “duct tape” to seal connections. Despite the name, standard cloth tape dries out and falls off within a few years in hot climates. Professional systems require mastic sealant or metal tape.
- Pests: It is an unpleasant reality, but rodents and other pests often chew through the flexible outer layers of ductwork to nest in the insulation, creating massive air leaks.
The Solution: Sealing, Not Just Taping
If you suspect your energy bills are being inflated by leaks, the solution is a professional duct inspection and sealing service.
This process involves a technician pressure-testing your system to locate the leaks. Once found, they don’t just stick a piece of tape over it. They use a specialized, paint-on substance called “mastic.” This is a gooey, fibrous sealant that hardens into a rubber-like consistency. It is air-tight, water-proof, and most importantly, it never dries out or cracks, even in 50°C heat.
By properly sealing your AC ducts, you restore the system to a closed loop. The air you pay to cool actually stays inside your rooms.
The ROI of Duct Repair
Is it worth the cost? Let’s look at the return on investment.
If sealing your ducts reduces your energy consumption by just 20% (a conservative estimate for leaky systems), and your average summer electric bill is 800 SAR, you save 160 SAR per month. Over the course of the long Saudi summer season (roughly April to October), that is over 1,000 SAR back in your pocket every single year.
Furthermore, sealing your AC ducts reduces the strain on your AC compressor. Because it doesn’t have to run as long to cool the house, it lasts years longer, saving you the massive cost of premature replacement.
Conclusion
We often look at the big, expensive white box on the roof or the wall and think that is the only thing that matters for cooling. But the veins that carry the air are just as important.
Don’t let your hard-earned money vanish into the hot air of your attic. If your electricity bills are rising and you can’t explain why, it is time to look up. A simple inspection of your AC ducts could be the key to slashing your SEC bill and enjoying a cooler, cleaner, and more efficient home.
Stop cooling the neighborhood. Seal your ducts, save your money, and survive the summer in comfort.
Location: Industrial City, Al Sina’iyah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia