Duct Sealing

Important! Pacific Power's planned changes to the incentives and equipment qualifications associated with our energy efficiency programs have been approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission effective April 16, 2012.

Seal the leaks for big savings on your electricity bill.

Often concealed in walls and between floors, your home's ducts are easy to overlook. Poorly sealed ducts can leak heated or cooled air, reducing your system's efficiency by as much as 20 percent and unnecessarily increasing your electricity bill. If you have high summer or winter utility bills, rooms that are difficult to heat or cool, or stuffy rooms that never seem to get comfortable, leaking ducts may be to blame. By identifying and sealing leaks, you can make your home more comfortable and save money on your electricity bill.

Energy Saving Benefits

  • Increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by 20 percent
  • Save money by using less electricity to heat and cool your home

Environmental Benefits

  • Promote clean air by using less electricity to maintain a comfortable home
  • Avoid harmful greenhouse gas emissions through reduced electricity use

Getting Started

Prior to starting a project, find a contractor using the Washington Participating and Program Qualified Contractors list. Note that select incentives must be completed by a Program Qualified Contractor. Review the Incentive Application with your contractor to determine eligibility requirements, incentive qualifications and review the list of required documents to submit for an incentive.

Incentive Application and required documents must be received within 90 days of the purchase or completed installation. Incentive checks are issued within 45 days of receipt of the completed and approved Incentive Application. Incentives are not to exceed the purchase price of the equipment or service. Equipment and service work may be inspected for compliance. Incentives are subject to tariff approval and may change with 45 days notice. Additional terms and conditions may apply.

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for questions regarding contractors or how to receive your incentive.

Available Incentives

Equipment Purchases and Services
Customer Incentive
Contractor Incentive
Duct sealing $250 $50

Qualifications

The duct sealing incentive is changing April 16, 2012. Click here for more details.

Duct sealing
  • Work must be completed by a Program Qualified Contractor
  • Incentive available on existing ductwork only. Existing ductwork must be located in an existing home. Newly installed ductwork does not qualify for an incentive.
  • Ducts must be located in an unconditioned space. Definition of unconditioned space- an unconditioned space is any space outside of the thermal envelope of the building that is not intentionally heated for occupancy.
  • Home must have an electric heating system or a central air conditioner serving 80 percent of the floor area
  • Program Qualified Contractor is required to perform CAZ testing, duct leakage testing and seal ducts with mastic
  • Duct sealing must reduce duct leakage to outside by 50 percent with a 100 CFM minimum reduction
  • Program Qualified Contractor must complete a program duct sealing worksheet
  • Incentives are limited to one duct sealing incentive per duct system for the lifetime of the home
  • Incentive application and required documents must be received within 90 days of completed service
Conditioned vs. unconditioned space - clarification notes
  • For the most part, basements are conditioned spaces. Basements are not usually thermally isolated from the main living area and contain space conditioning ducts. Basements are also used for storage and frequently contain laundry facilities and other living spaces. Ducts serving unfinished basements are not always equipped with dedicated supply registers, although single registers at plenums are not unusual.
  • An unconditioned basement would have these properties: Thermally isolated from the main floor by insulation in the floor. Insulated, weather-stripped door (if above floor plane) and insulated stairwell walls where thermal plane penetrates floor, air sealed (caulked, foamed penetrations) wiring plumbing, sealed duct penetrations and sealed, insulated ducts. No supply registers.
  • While a crawl space is unconditioned space, the floor must be insulated prior to or at the same time ducts are sealed and insulated to thermally isolate the crawlspace. Failure to do this will increase the heating load of the home and potentially cause comfort issues.

Need help?

    These helpful forms can assist you in the process of submitting your application materials.

  • Review the list of HVAC required documents to submit with an incentive application
  • Take a look at the program-accepted proof of payment options