The greatest energy use in California homes is for central air conditioning and heating. Most homes with central air conditioning and heating systems have ducts that were never properly sealed. The average home’s ducts leak around 30 percent of the conditioned air outside the home. These leaks are taking money straight out of your pocket. Properly sealed ducts will lower your energy bills and reduce pollution inside your home.
Ducts that leak can reduce the efficiency of a forced-air heating or cooling system from 20 to over 40 percent. These leaks can make your home uncomfortable and unhealthy. Leaks in return ducts can pull pollutants into your home from your attic, basement or garage. Leaky supply ducts can negatively pressurize the house and cause drafts or moisture problems.
Sealing leaky ducts will improve both the efficiency and performance of your heating and cooling system. Leaky ducts make your heating and cooling system work longer and harder to keep you comfortable. Homeowners who have had their leaky ducts sealed have noticed a decrease in their monthly energy bills and an increase in comfort.
October 1, 2005, the California Energy Commission passed a law which states when you have a central air conditioner or furnace installed or replaced, you must have your ducts tested for leaks. Ducts that leak 15 percent or more must be repaired to reduce the leakage. After your licensed contractor tests and seals the ducts, and fills out the proper forms, you choose an approved third-party HERS Rater (Rowland Air, Inc. www.rowlandair.com) to check and make sure the duct sealing and duct testing was done properly.
For the month of April, Rowland Air Inc. is offering a free duct inspection. We at Rowland Air Inc. are doing our part to make Santa Clarita a Greener city. Please contact us at 661-424-0076 or www.rowlandair.com . For more information, please visit www.Rowlandair.com to be linked to the http://hersrater.org/hers.htm website.