Heating & Cooling Ducts
By: Darren Lombardo
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that up to 40 percent of your heating and cooling is lost through home leaks and HVAC ducts. What can you do?
You can start by inspecting your home's duct work. The duct work is that long, silvery channel(s) that distribute heating and cooling to the rooms within your home. Every few feet there are joints in the duct channels, which are usually joined with aluminum tape. Over time, this tape “breaks down” and the join will develop a leak or come detached completely.
1. Look for broken joints.
2. Repair joints with aluminum tape and coat with duct mastic, which can be applied with a paint brush.
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3. Look for disconnected flex joints and reattach them with big zip ties.
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3. You can gain more efficiency by insulating ducts with foil-faced duct wrap.
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| Conclusion: | A DIY repair and insulation of ducts will make your heating and cooling output much more efficient. |
