Many homeowners are on the right track with making their homes more energy efficient. They replace the old heating and cooling systems with high efficiency units, install a programmable thermostat, have their yearly maintenance performed, and replace the furnace filter regularly. However, thousands of homes that have these improvements are still wasting loads of energy. How is this possible? Leaky or poorly insulated duct work is the problem.
Problems Caused by Leaky and Un-insulated Duct-work
When the builder installed the duct work system in your home, they had to place sections of the duct-work system in areas that are no conditioned by the air conditioner or furnace. As a result, the air that passes through the ducts will either loose heat or cooling to the duct work material. For example, attics are common place for duct work to be hidden. During the winter, the temperature in the attic is similar to the temperature outside. When the duct work is not insulated, it becomes very cold. As hot air passes through the ducts, some heat is lost to the cold duct-work material whether it is metal, fiberglass, or another duct-work type. » Read more: Duct Leaks and Insulation
