Do you have high utility bills, uneven room temperatures or poor indoor air quality? If you do, your ductwork may be to blame – and a new technique called air duct sealing can make a dramatic difference.
How it works
The patented Aeroseal® technology, certified by the federal EnergyStar program, internally seals air leaks in heating and cooling ducts. Adhesive particles are blown into the duct system, where they deposit only on the leakage sites, sealing them completely.
The air sealing contractor will spend about an hour inspecting your ductwork and pinpoint the problem areas. The aerosol sealing process itself takes another hour or so, depending on the size of your home.
All vents and registers are temporarily closed off, forcing all the air flow through the leaks in your ductwork. The air sealing contractor will control the air flow, duct pressure and particle size to maximize sealing.
Aerosol particles are directed primarily towards the leaks because: - Small aerosol particles are kept suspended in the airflow by a fan.
- As the air stream makes a sharp turn through a leak, the particles are flung against the leak walls.
- Using sticky solid particles allows the built-up seal to span leaks as much as 3/8 of an inch.
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 Did you know? Each year, duct leakage costs
U.S. homeowners
$5 billion in
wasted energy.
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The benefits
Sealing duct leaks reduces heating and cooling energy use by up to 30 percent, for annual utility bill savings of up to $300.
Duct sealing improves the performance of heating and cooling systems, making you more comfortable by: - Cooling or heating the house more quickly;
- Delivering more hot or cold air; and
- Distributing heating and cooling more uniformly throughout your house.
Aerosol sealing improves upon conventional duct-leak sealing methods in several ways: - Seals more of the leakage, getting to inaccessible leaks;
- Provides better working conditions for performing the sealing;
- Generates a certificate verifying that duct leaks have been sealed; and
- Is less time consuming and less costly to homeowners.
Duct sealing also reduces the entry of dust, excess humidity, automotive exhaust, radon gas and other chemical fumes. |
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The cost
Aerosealing the ductwork in a newly-constructed home will cost around $400-$500, making it an excellent investment in long-term energy efficiency.
For existing homes, the process will cost around $1,000 to $1,500, depending on the size and age of your home. While this is a substantial investment, keep in mind that you can save as much as $300 a year in energy bills – and that can pay back your initial cost in as little as three years!
Award-winning technology
In 2000, the Aeroseal process won the "Energy 100" award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), who also rated the Aeroseal process as one of the 23 most beneficial technologies to American consumers to come out of the 23 years of DOE's existence.
Aeroseal also won the "Best of What's New" award from Popular Science magazine in 1996. |
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Are you an Alliant Energy customer?
If you’re an Alliant Energy utility customer in Iowa, Minnesota or Wisconsin, you can earn cash back when you purchase new high-efficiency heating and air conditioning equipment.
Looking for an energy-smart heating or air conditioning contractor? Try Alliant Energy’s online Dealer Locator to find experts in your area.
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