Fixing Leaky Ducts Saves Energy and Improves Air Quality

One of the bigger enemies of saving energy may be lurking in your crawlspace or attic. That energy-sucking monster is leaky ductwork, which can account for as much as 30% of your total heating and cooling costs.

Duct leaks not only let heated or cooled air escape, but also let in moisture, which adds to your air conditioning load. Leaking ducts can reduce your indoor air quality by letting in dust, moisture, mold spores and fiberglass dust. Because duct leaks cause heating and air conditioning equipment to work harder and allow dirt to get into the equipment, they can shorten equipment life.

Here are some signs that you might have leaky ducts:

• Higher energy bills than expected
• Different temperatures in different parts of the house
• Excessive dust

You may think your ducts are sealed because they are insulated, but insulation doesn’t stop air leaks. Dark streaks in insulation indicate air leakage.

Why are duct leaks so common? While Georgia’s building codes require that all joints in ductwork be sealed, sometimes the original installers failed to seal them or used a sealant that deteriorated over time. For example, duct tape is no longer recommended for sealing ducts, because the adhesive becomes brittle. Crushed ductwork is common with flex duct installations and flexible ducts can be damaged by sharp objects or flattened by workers in your crawlspace.

Duct repair should generally be left to the professionals. If you do want to try to fix obvious problems such as unsealed joints, use silicone caulking or a mastic-type sealant.

In addition to leaks, other duct problems such as uninsulated ducts in unconditioned spaces can reduce the efficiency of your heating and air conditioning system. Uneven temperatures in different parts of the home can be caused by poor duct system design.

The best way to find duct leaks and other ductwork problems is to schedule a Right Choice™ Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Audit that uses high-tech equipment to measure air leakage and heating and cooling performance. Call 800-462-3691 to schedule your audit.