Homeowner guide
Energy efficiency starts in your ductwork
You can buy the most efficient furnace ever made and still heat your attic. Here's why leaky ducts are the quietest energy waster in Colorado homes — and what duct sealing and cleaning do about it.
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Estimate your potential savings from Aeroseal
Answer four quick questions about your home and get a ballpark of what leaky ducts could be costing you each year — and the potential benefit of sealing them with Aeroseal.
Your combined gas and electric bill is a good guide.
Estimated yearly energy benefit
$172 – $241
out of roughly $2,160 a year in total energy spend. Over five years that's $861 – $1,203 in estimated energy savings over that period.
This is a ballpark estimate, not a quote or a savings guarantee. It's based on ENERGY STAR figures for typical duct losses. Actual savings depend on your home, energy use, duct layout and measured leakage. Mile High plans to begin offering Aeroseal in 2027.
ENERGY STAR estimates the typical home loses 20–30% of the air moving through its ducts to leaks, holes and poor connections. That's air you already paid to heat or cool.
Where your heating and cooling money actually goes
Your furnace and air conditioner push conditioned air through dozens of joints, seams and connections before it reaches a register. Every gap along the way lets that air escape into the attic, crawl space or wall cavities — spaces nobody is trying to heat. On the return side, the same leaks work in reverse, pulling dusty, unconditioned air into the system and spreading it through the house.
20–30%
of ducted air lost to leaks in a typical home
~20%
possible efficiency gain from sealing & insulating ducts
2×
benefit: lower bills and cleaner indoor air
Why Colorado homes feel it more
Colorado swings from single-digit winter nights to ninety-degree summer afternoons, so your ducts run hard almost year-round. In Black Forest and Elbert County homes, ductwork often runs through vented attics and crawl spaces that see the worst of both extremes — every leak out there costs you at full price. Dry winter air also means any dust pulled in through return-side leaks gets spread far and wide.
Signs your ducts are leaking or loaded
- Rooms that never reach the temperature on the thermostat
- Summer and winter utility bills that crept up without explanation
- Dust settling again a day after you clean — a classic return-leak symptom
- Ducts running through an attic, crawl space or garage
- Some registers blow noticeably weaker than others
If several of these sound familiar, the fix usually has two parts: a proper duct cleaning to clear the restriction, followed by sealing leaks to keep conditioned air in the system. Our planned 2027 service uses Aeroseal rather than tape. You can learn about the process and the advance-booking discount on our Aeroseal duct-sealing page. While planning your home's efficiency work, a clean dryer vent is the other fast win — most homeowners go back to a single cycle per load.
Energy and duct questions, answered
How much energy do leaky ducts really waste?
According to ENERGY STAR, the typical house loses 20 to 30 percent of the air moving through its duct system to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts. That's conditioned air you've already paid to heat or cool, escaping into attics, crawl spaces and wall cavities.
What are the signs my ducts are leaking?
Rooms that never reach the temperature on the thermostat, high summer and winter utility bills, stuffy rooms that never feel comfortable, and ducts running through an attic, crawl space or garage. Excess dust around the house can also point to return-side leaks pulling attic or crawl-space air in.
Does duct cleaning help with efficiency too?
Yes. Heavy dust buildup restricts airflow and makes the blower work harder. Cleaning the supply and return runs, registers and blower area removes that restriction — sealing then keeps the conditioned air in the system where it belongs.
What does duct sealing involve?
Our duct-sealing service uses Aeroseal, a state-of-the-art process that seals leaks from inside the duct system. It does not rely on manually taping accessible seams. Mile High plans to begin offering Aeroseal in 2027, and advance reservations are now available.
Will sealing my ducts lower my energy bill?
Usually, yes. ENERGY STAR estimates sealing and insulating ducts can improve heating and cooling efficiency by as much as 20 percent or more. Your furnace and air conditioner run shorter cycles to hold the same temperature.
Can I talk to you about it before booking?
Absolutely. Call us, email us, or send the estimate form with a note about what you're seeing — rooms that won't heat, dust that won't quit, bills that crept up. We'll tell you honestly whether cleaning, sealing or both make sense for your home.
Talk it through with us first
Not sure whether your home needs cleaning, future Aeroseal service or both? Tell us what you're seeing — a cold room, dust that won't quit, or bills that crept up. We'll give you a straight answer and can reserve a 2027 Aeroseal appointment with the 25% advance-booking discount.
Plan ahead for a tighter duct system
Aeroseal service begins in 2027. Pre-book now to reserve 25% off your future duct-sealing service.
100% satisfaction guaranteed · Certified & 100% insured · Serving Black Forest, Colorado Springs, the Denver metro and Douglas, Arapahoe & Elbert counties