Seal Those Ducts

Heating vents should be clean and unobstructed, to save on high home heating oil costs.

Photo: Don Bayley / istock

By Brian Clark Howard

Heating and cooling is one of the home's biggest uses of energy, so it's important to make sure all your ductwork is tightly sealed. Studies show 10% to 30% of conditioned air in an average system escapes from ducts, reports the U.S. Department of Energy.

Clearly, you don't want to be paying for hot or cold air that is simply going to waste, and you don't want to be responsible for more CO₂ emissions than is necessary. Therefore, it' a good idea to hire a professional (and experienced) service technician to come out and test your system, and fix any duct problems that are uncovered. Don't just try to slap on duct tape, because that's not very effective, despite its name.

Properly sealing ducts can save the average home up to $140 annually, according to the American Solar Energy Society. A number of utilities also offer incentive programs to make duct improvement even more affordable.

Finally, well-sealed ducts can also help cut down on mold and dust, leading to healthier indoor air.

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