- Appliances: use less power
- Beware vampire appliances
- Commercial building energy assessments
- Commercial building incentives
- Common mistakes
- Gifts that save energy all year
- Heating and coolling savings
- Holiday lighting: festive & efficient
- Insulation types: pros & cons
- Kitchens: ways to save
- Lower your utility bills
- Path to Energy Efficiency
- Programmable Thermostats
- Radon: test after energy upgrade
- Refrigerator: retire for quick payback
- Resolutions to conserve energy and save money
- Seal duct leaks
- Stack Effect Influences Energy Use
- Systems in house work together
- Wash clothes in cold water
- Water heating bills
- Where to make home improvements
- Windows: repair, don't replace
Learn to seal your own duct leaks
Your Path to Energy Savings
By Santoras "Dee"Gamble, Special to The Ithaca Journal
January 10, 2011
Are some rooms in your home difficult or expensive to heat or cool? Do some rooms feel "stuffy" or uncomfortable? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have leaky, torn, or disconnected ductwork in your home.
Ducts that run through attics, cellars, and crawlspaces are an integral part of forced air heating and cooling systems. Leaks in theses ducts can increase energy costs, reduce indoor air quality and decrease overall comfort. When the home's duct system is not properly sealed toxic fumes, like carbon monoxide, can build up and create an unhealthy and potentially lethal living environment. Another problem can occur when noxious fumes from common household items like cleaners, solvents, fertilizers and paints, typically stored in basements and other area where heating systems are installed, are drawn into the home's return system; thus circulating these potentially dangerous fumes throughout the home.
If your ducts are accessible in your attic, basement, or crawlspace you may be able to make simple, money saving improvements yourself. One easy step is to reconnect any ducts that have been disconnected at the registers that bring heated or cooled air into the home. With your heating or cooling system fan on, run your hand along exposed ductwork to physically feel for leaks. Visible leaks at joints should be sealed with UL-181 rated mastic or foil tape. Mastic is a gummy, glue-like substance and is best applied with a brush, trowel, or gloved hand. Work the mastic into the joint or crack and press lightly to get an even coating. There should be at least a ½ inch overlap around any joint, crack, or hole in the duct. For gaps larger than ¼ inch, use mesh tape to reinforce the mastic coating. Foil tape has a metal foil backing and an acrylic adhesive and should be wrapped securely around any ½ inch or smaller visible opening.
If the ducts are not accessible, or if the task of duct sealing is a bit more than you would like to take on, consider hiring a BPI certified contractor who can inspect your duct system and recommend and make the necessary repairs.
