Well, the cold weather is definitely upon us and that makes it a great time to start thinking about how we can better protect our homes...and therefore the amount of money we allow to fly out of them!
For instance, did you know that energy loss through gaps and poor connections in ductwork can be as high as 30%? This can be increased by un-insulated ducting in the attic or crawlspace. Many times crawlspace and attic inspections reveal ducting that has become separated or has been poorly sealed at connections.
It is recommended to use a permanent type sealant such as duct sealant caulk to repair these areas. Duct tape will deteriorate over time and will recreate the problem.
It should be understood that if a home has the ducting within the envelope of the home...meaning not in the crawlspace or attic...the energy loss will be far less.
The best procedure for determining leaking ducts is to turn on the furnace fan and enter the attic or crawlspace. it is easy to hear or feel air movement within the ducting where gaps exist.
The use of smoke is an effective way to test this because as the smoke is drawn into the ducting it can actually be seen as it escapes through the gaps. If, however, you are uncomfortabel with this type of system review, it is suggested that you contact a reputable home inspector or HVAC company to evaluate your system.
This helpful information has been provided to us by our good friend Jim Schwarz at Center Grove Real Estate Inspections. For more helpful advice, please call Jim directly at 317.313.5362 and be sure to tell him you found him at iShopGreenwood.com !
This post was originally published at www.iShopGreenwood.com
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