Duct Sealing

From our years of experience we have found that the duct system in your home is often the most important and neglected part of the heating and cooling system. Without properly sealed and balanced ducts, a new shiny piece of heating or cooling equipment cannot provide real comfort and efficiency. We strive to achieve real comfort and energy savings in every home we work on. Duct leakage is not only an efficiency issue, but can also be a significant issue for indoor air quality and home comfort. Here are a few interesting facts:

• Efficiency: According to The U.S. Dept. of Energy: “You can lose up to 60% of your heated air before it reaches the register if your ducts aren’t insulated and they travel through unheated spaces such as the attic or crawlspace.” In the homes we have tested over the years we have found that duct systems in older home in the Bay Area leak an average of 30-40%. That’s like throwing away $0.40 for every dollar you spend on heating!
• Air Quality: Leaky ducts are often located in the attic or crawlspace which can cause major indoor air quality issues. For example, damp crawlspace can cause mold growth and high humidity. When the furnace goes on, the leaky duct system can draw this unhealthy air and distribute it throughout the house. It’s no wonder that the EPA states that indoor air quality is 10 times worse than outdoors!
• Comfort: Another common complaint is that some rooms are too hot/cold or don’t receive enough air flow. Fixing the leaks can provide more air flow to the rooms where you want it. To help balance the system and deliver correct air flow to individual rooms, we can adjust the in-line dampers on the furnace to redirect the heat where we want it. If you have an older duct system, you may need to have dampers installed in order to do this.