Duct Sealing
The important hidden system in your home, your ductwork, may be wasting a lot of your energy dollars. Your home's ductwork, a branching network of tubes in the walls, floors, and ceilings, carries the air from your home's furnace and central air conditioner to each room. Ducts are typically made of sheet metal or fiberglass.
Unfortunately, many duct systems are poorly insulated or not insulated properly. Sometimes we find they may not have been properly installed. Ducts that leak heated air into unheated spaces can add hundreds of dollars a year to your heating and cooling bills. Insulating ducts that are in unconditioned spaces is usually very cost effective.
If you have leaky ducts, you can lose up to 60% of your heated air before it reaches the room register if your ducts are not insulated and they travel through unheated spaces, such as your attic or crawlspace.
Not all ducts are accessible. Your MD will check as many of them as possible. If there is a particular room or set of rooms that are typically hotter or colder than the rest of the house, let your MD know. That information can help isolate an energy loss issue.
Improving Your Ductwork
- Your HomeEnergy MD will check your ducts for air leaks, holes and look for sections that should be joined but have separated.
- Your HomeEnergy MD will also check for carbon monoxide. Ducts that don't work properly can create serious, life-threatening carbon monoxide (CO) problems in the home if you have a fuel-burning furnace, stove or other appliance, or an attached garage.
What Is Involved In Sealing And Improving Ductwork?
- This procedure can typically be performed in a few hours to one day, depending on the number of vents to be treated.
- Our Energy Management Technicians™ (EMTs) will come to your home at the scheduled time. They are professional, courteous and respectful of your home and your family.
- Your EMTs will seal and insulate ducts as prescribed to minimize air and heat loss in accessible areas of your home.
- After they have completed the procedure, they will be sure to remove all tools, equipment and debris. Your EMTs will also clean-up the project area, including vacuuming as sweeping as needed.
- Once your full Treatment Plan is complete, your MD will return and retest your home to confirm the work was done correctly and effectively.
