How to Tell if Your Ducts are Leaking this Winter

Nobody enjoys throwing money away. But there’s a high likelihood you may be doing just that without even realizing it. That’s because many homes have leaking air ducts—and if your home does, they could be increasing your monthly energy bill by 20–30% (and even more than that if your ducts are in attics and crawl spaces—up to 40%!).

Luckily, there is a simple solution to correct leaky ductwork—duct sealing. But before you schedule service, you should confirm that your ducts are leaking in the first place. Some common signs your ducts may be leaking are:

In the sections below, we’ll walk you through each of these warning signs and outline how duct sealing can help save you money.

When your energy bill goes up, it’s a sign that your HVAC system has to work harder to heat your home. To understand how leaky ducts can increase your energy bill, let's first learn how ducts work.

There are two types of ducts:

• Return ducts transfer air from your home to your HVAC system to be heated
• Supply ducts transfer warm air from your HVAC system out into your home

If your supply ducts have leaks, the air your HVAC system just worked so hard to heat can leak out from your ducts before getting to the room you want to warm up. As a result, your HVAC system will have to work harder to heat your home.

If your return ducts have leaks, then cold air from your attic or basement can leak into the duct, causing the air it transfers to your HVAC system to be extra cold. The extra cold air means your HVAC system has to work harder to warm up this air before transferring it back out into your home.

Beyond just sealing your ducts, it’s also a good idea to install your ducts in the conditioned spaces of your home (rooms you want to have heated). This way, if air leaks into or out of your ducts, it will not result in a loss of energy. Need some help rethinking your duct placement? Ask us about our custom ductwork services!

If one room in your home is noticeably colder than the rest of your home, you likely have a leak in the supply duct that services that room. This room is colder than the rest of the house because hot air leaks from the ducts before reaching it. If you decide to have an HVAC professional investigate the issue, be sure to mention any particularly cold areas of your house so they can identify and seal the leak.

If your home is excessively dusty no matter how much you clean it, you might have a leak in one of your return ducts. Dust and debris can enter your ductwork through a return duct leak in areas such as an attic or basement. Any dust and debris leaking into your return ducts are then transferred with your treated air to your supply ducts and forced into your home.

Duct sealing not only helps keep your home clean and comfortable but also saves you money by maintaining the efficiency of your HVAC system. Duct sealing involves identifying leaks and sealing them using metal tape or sealant. While you can seal your ducts yourself, it’s beneficial to have your ducts sealed by a professional so you can ensure all the problem-causing leaks are identified and sealed.

Insulating ducts in unconditioned spaces such as attics, crawlspaces, and basements can also help keep your HVAC system running efficiently.

If you believe your ductwork needs a total overhaul, ask one of our HVAC technicians for more information about your custom ductwork needs!