Bookmark the Tips Directory on the Conservation Web or order the print version of 30 Simple Energy Things from the Residential Conservation Help Line. Duct Soup Heating experts estimate that 99 percent of all houses in the United States with central furnaces or air conditioners suffer duct leaks.
Ducts are a critical link in home energy efficiency.
If they leak or lose heat because they're uninsulated, they're contributing as much to global warming as they are to warming the house. If the first air out of the duct is chilly and remains chilly for a long time, you know you're wasting energy. If you feel any, clean around the joint and seal with duct tape. Seal the seams with duct tape. If ducts are hard to reach, call a heating contractor.