Keeps your Ducts in a Row, tips from Energy Star

I recently discovered an ENERGY STAR® publication, “A Guide to Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling,” with lots of helpful information.  Therefore today’s blog will be about what ENERGY STAR® has to say about duct maintenance (and if you are reading this to learn how to care for your pet ducks, this is not what this will be about).

According to Energy Star “…about 20% of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts.”  This should be pretty upsetting for those who do not like to lose money (and who does?).  However, there are some ways that ENERGY STAR® recommends that you can do to help:

“Because ducts are often concealed in walls, ceilings, attics, and basements, repairing them can be difficult. But there are things that you can do to improve duct performance in your house. Start by sealing leaks using mastic sealant or metal (foil) tape and insulating all the ducts that you can access, such as those in the attic, crawl space, basement, or garage. Never use ‘duct tape,’ as it is not long-lasting. Also, make sure that the connections at vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet the floors, walls, and ceiling. These are common locations to find leaks and disconnected ductwork.”

You can also use professional contractors, such as FLAME, to help, and if you are interested in working to make your home even more energy-efficient, check out FLAME’s E3 Inspection!  (To read the full ENERGY STAR® Article click here)  More questions?  Contact FLAME!