California Energy Commission Vice Chair Jackalyne Pfannenstiel said “New air conditioners and furnaces are much more energy efficient and will save you money. It makes no sense to invest in a new air conditioner or furnace, however, unless you are sure that your ducts are working properly and the conditioned air is actually going to get to the rooms [of your house].”

Homeowners should have their ducts tested and sealant applied to reduce costs, save on energy and increase the overall comfort of their homes. Unfortunately, it is estimated that in some cases homes are losing 70% of their conditioned air to leakage!  Considering that most of the energy used in California is for Air Conditioning, this energy waste could be substantial.

Existing systems should be tested to insure that minimal leakage is happening.  It is estimated that many of the homes in California are leaking at least 30% of their conditioned air, usually into the attic or under the house.  That means that $.30 of every heating and air conditioning dollar you spend is wasted.

California law requires that when a new air conditioner or heating system is installed, the installer must test the system after installation and insure that leakage is under 15%.  This rating must be certified by a Registered Third-Party tester.

It is estimated that the average homeowner will have to pay about $650 to have their ducts inspected and sealed.  This may seem like a lot, but when compared to the continual cost of lost hot or cold air and ever-increasing energy bills, this expense will pay for itself in a short period of time.  That old adage “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, might seem to apply here.  If your average heating / cooling bill is $150 per month, and you are presently wasting 30% of  it, that means roughly $50 of the money you pay each month is thrown away.  At that rate, 12 X $50 = $600.  The energy you save in one year could almost pay for the testing and sealing of your ducts.

Of the available methods for duct sealing, one of the more efficient seems to be the aerosol method.  During this process sealant is pumped through the existing duct system and as it moves through the existing pipes and ducts, it collects at points where sudden air flow changes occur, that is where air leaks out of the system.  As the process continues, the leaks are sealed.  In fact, less than 2% of the sealant actually remains inside the ducts with the rest being harmlessly expelled from the system.

This means that your family will be breathing less polluted air and also that the system will be performing much more efficiently, which will save you money. You can easily locate companies that will perform the testing and sealing process in your local phone directory or by contacting The Better Business Bureau in your area. Being safe and warm in an affordable home is a pleasure that everyone should have.  Why not insure that you are doing that? If you’ve made it this far you might as well check out our Air Purification Services page, on it you’ll find information about our duct work services.