Duct Sealing for
Alberta Homes
Sealing leaky ductwork before sizing solar means your system is right-sized for your actual load, improving the economics of the whole project.
Why Duct Sealing Comes Before Solar Sizing
Forced-air duct systems in many Alberta homes lose 20 to 30% of conditioned air before it reaches the living space. That loss shows up on your electricity and gas bills as wasted energy. It also inflates the electricity consumption number your solar system would need to offset.
If you size a solar system against a leaky duct load, you're committing to a larger installation than your home actually needs once the duct problem is fixed. Sealing first means the solar sizing is accurate and you're not paying for panels to offset air that was leaking into your attic.
The Efficiency-First Approach
The most cost-effective clean energy strategy is almost always: reduce load first, then size the solar system to cover what remains. Duct sealing is one of the highest-return efficiency upgrades available in Alberta homes, with payback typically in the 3 to 6 year range before solar is even considered.
The Duct Sealing Process
Duct Leakage Test
We pressurize the duct system and measure total leakage to establish a baseline. This confirms whether duct sealing is worthwhile for your specific home before any work begins.
Sealing
Leaks at joints, boots, and connections are sealed with mastic compound or metal-backed tape. We focus on accessible ductwork in attics, crawlspaces, and mechanical rooms where losses are typically highest.
Post-Seal Verification
A second leakage test confirms the reduction achieved. You receive a written report with before and after numbers so you can see the improvement and use it to inform your solar sizing.
Updated Solar Sizing
If you're pairing duct sealing with a solar installation, we update the production model to reflect your improved efficiency baseline, so the system size is right-sized for your actual post-seal load.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common signs include rooms that are hard to heat or cool, high heating and cooling bills relative to your home size, excessive dust accumulation, and humidity or air quality issues. A duct leakage test gives you a precise number. We include the test as part of the pre-solar assessment for any home where forced-air heating is the primary system.
CEIP covers eligible clean energy improvements. Duct sealing eligibility varies by municipality and program version. We confirm CEIP eligibility for each component during your proposal so you know what can be included in the loan.
Most residential duct sealing projects are completed in a half to full day, depending on home size and duct system complexity. The leakage tests add a couple of hours on either end.
Properly performed duct sealing using approved materials does not void furnace warranties. We use mastic sealant and metal-backed tape, which are the industry-standard materials for this application.
Find Out If Duct Sealing Makes Sense Before You Size Solar
We'll assess your home's efficiency baseline and show you how it affects your solar system sizing and the overall project economics.