Duct Sealing

duct sealing cash incentives

Air that’s heated or cooled to comfort you and your family shouldn’t be pouring into your crawlspace, attic, walls or other uninhabited areas. That’s why it’s important to make sure your ducted heating and cooling systems aren’t leaking, which wastes energy and costs you money and comfort.

Testing and sealing your ductwork can trim your energy costs, make your home more comfortable and reduce indoor air pollution. Duct insulation can provide even more benefits. Sealed and insulated ducts—in addition to a properly sealed and insulated home—also allow you to install a heating system that is the correct size for your home and not oversized to compensate for inefficiencies. Ask your contractor to help you determine the system that is right for your home.

Energy Trust offers cash incentives for duct sealing. Read more below about applying for cash incentives and hiring a contractor: 

Energy Trust Incentives

To be eligible for cash incentives, an Oregon Department of Energy-certified or a Performance Testing Comfort Systems-certified contractor must perform duct testing and sealing (not required for Washington customers). Your contractor must also provide an Oregon Department of Energy or a PTCS Duct Sealing Certificate & NW Duct Sealing Form with pre- and post-CFM50 numbers.

Duct testing: $35 per duct system tested
A specially trained contractor conducts a duct leakage test in your home to determine the amount of air leaking from your ducts (measured in cubic feet of air leakage per minute or CFM50).

Duct sealing:
Electric-heated homes: 50 percent of cost, up to $400; minimum 150 CFM50 reduction and a minimum of 50 percent reduction in duct leakage
Gas-heated homes: 50 percent of cost, up to $325; minimum 150 CFM50 reduction and a minimum of 50 percent reduction in duct leakage

If your ducts need sealing, the contractor seals the leaks and conducts a second duct leakage test to determine the CFM50 reduction.

Save even more in your electric- or gas-heated home with our Heat Pump Premium Installation Package.

Incentive offer is subject to availability of funding and may change.

Tax Credits

Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit: up to $250
Tax credit is 25 percent of eligible job costs up to $250. Duct testing and sealing must meet Oregon tax credit criteria (see Oregon Department of Energy or your accountant for complete details).

Oregon customers heating their homes with electricity or natural gas from Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas can participate.

Washington customers heating their homes with natural gas from NW Natural can receive our incentives.

Oregon homes that heat with oil, propane, kerosene, butane or wood can conduct their own energy audit and apply for cash rebates for installed weatherization upgrades through the Oregon Department of Energy's SHOW (State Home Oil Weatherization) program.

Energy Trust does not pay incentives for energy-efficient improvements that are mandated for building code compliance, such as remodeling, renovation or new additions to the home.

Follow these easy steps to get cash for sealing the ducts in your home:

1: Establish your eligibility.

2: Select a contractor and have the work done.
To receive an Energy Trust cash incentive, contact a quality, energy-efficiency trained Energy Trust trade ally contractor or any contractor with a current Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license.

If you plan to apply for the Heat Pump Premium Installation Package, you must also install a qualified premium-efficiency heat pump and work with a trade ally contractor to install both upgrades.

3: Submit your application materials within 90 days of installation. Often, your contractor will help you complete the application form.
Mail or fax your signed and completed incentive application form—along with your contractor's invoice marked “paid in full” and a PTCS Duct Sealing Certificate & NW Duct Sealing Form— to:

Mail:
Energy Trust of Oregon
Home Energy Solutions
P.O. Box 847
Portland, OR 97207

Fax: 1.866.516.7592

Please allow six to eight weeks for incentive processing and payment.

Questions? Call us at 1.866.368.7878.

Oregon Customers

Please mail or fax Form 320ADS (along with your contractor’s invoice marked “paid in full” and a PTCS Duct Sealing Certificate & NW Duct Sealing Form).

You may choose to submit Form 320ADS or Form 300A. If you submit Form 300A, you are required to also submit a customized invoice that includes energy-efficiency information in addition to installation costs and materials and a PTCS Duct Sealing Certificate & NW Duct Sealing Form.

Washington Customers of NW Natural

Please mail or fax Form 320WA (along with your contractor's invoice marked "paid in full" and a PTCS Duct Sealing Certificate & NW Duct Sealing Form).