If you have ever watered a flower garden with a leaky hose, you probably watched much of the water leak out before getting to the flowers. Your home air ducts work in the same fashion as a garden hose. If it isn't sealed, warm or cold air leaks away before coming through your registers.

If your ductwork is leaking, you're losing money. You spend your money on fuel to cool or heat your home and, before it reaches your indoor space, leaks in ductwork allows some of that cooled or heated air to escape – which means your money is escapes, too.

Even if you've just upgraded to a highly efficient A/C system, it may come up short if your ducting system isn't functioning properly. Duct sealing is a great way to keep your home temperate and your A/C functioning the way it should.

Most homes have leaky ductwork to some degree, and that reduces air quality while costing you comfort and money. In an average home, about 30 percent of conditioned air is lost to leaks, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. But Rodenhiser offers Massachusetts homeowners an effective and affordable solution: Aeroseal.

Leaks in your ductwork cost money, stress your air conditioner and can even lead to allergy flares. The network of air passageways that runs through your home isn't exactly an aesthetic feature, either. It's hidden inside walls, crawlspaces, and attics. So unlike a plumbing leak that leaves a trail of water, a duct leak might go unnoticed for years.

Although seasonal maintenance on your air conditioning or other cooling systems is important, some guidelines remain the same whether it’s chilly winter, humid summer, or mild spring and autumn. In particular, maintaining your home’s ductwork is essential to keeping your home comfortable. At the same time, duct sealing will also raise energy efficiency and lower utility bills.

Leaky ductwork may be sapping warmth from your home this winter while running up your heating bills. A typical home might lose as much as 30 percent of its heated air (and cooled air in the summer) from leaking ducts before it reaches rooms in the house. Since most houses are built with ducts hidden in walls, attics and crawlspaces, inspecting and sealing ductwork is a job that is better left to a professional HVAC contractor. Here are some of the things your HVAC technician will do to ensure that your ductwork delivers conditioned air where it's needed:

If your utility bills seem higher than normal, yet you’re left with stuffy rooms or excessive dust in your home, the ductwork could be to blame. Hiring a professional to complete duct sealing can provide you with a number of lasting benefits.

Duct systems are notorious energy wasters. Sealing your ductwork often presents the best solution.

Before cooler weather arrives, you're wise to get your home systems ready for action. You can winterize your home by cleaning your gutters to allow snow melt to drain freely, and heading to your local hardware store to get door stops to fix those pesky drafts. But there are other energy-saving projects you should perform each fall to ensure that your heating system can function efficiently, and energy bills remain low.