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One of the most important systems in your home, though it's hidden
beneath your feet and over your head, may be wasting a lot of your
energy dollars. Your home's duct system, 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
made of sheet metal, fiber glass, or other materials.
Unfortunately, many duct systems are poorly insulated or not insulated
properly. 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 are buying a new duct system, consider one that comes with
insulation already installed.
Sealing your ducts to prevent leaks is even more important if the
ducts are located in an unconditioned area such as an attic or vented
crawl space. If the supply ducts are leaking, heated or cooled air
can be forced out unsealed joints and lost. In addition, unconditioned
air can also be drawn into return ducts through unsealed joints.
In the summer, hot attic air can be drawn in, increasing the load
on the air conditioner. In the winter, your furnace will have to
work longer to keep your house comfortable. Either way, your energy
losses cost you money.
Although minor duct repairs are easy to accomplish, ducts in unconditioned
spaces should be sealed and insulated by qualified
professionals using the appropriate sealing materials. Here
are a few simple tips to help with minor duct repairs.
- Check your ducts for air leaks. First look for sections that
should be joined but have separated and then look for obvious
holes.
- If you use duct tape to repair and seal your ducts, look for
tape with the Underwriters Laboratories logo to avoid tape that
degrades, cracks, and loses its bond with age.
- Remember that insulating ducts in the basement will make the
basement colder. If both the ducts and the basement walls are
uninsulated, consider insulating both.
- If your basement has been converted to a living area, install
both supply and return registers in the basement rooms.
- Be sure a well-sealed vapor barrier exists on the outside of
the insulation on cooling ducts to prevent moisture buildup.
- Get a professional to help you insulate and repair all ducts.
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