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Seal Ductwork

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 ductwork—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 sealing ductwork. Read more below about applying for cash incentives and hiring a contractor: 

Energy Trust Incentives

Seal ductwork:
Electric-heated homes: 50 percent of cost, up to $400

Gas-heated homes: 50 percent of cost, up to $325

To qualify for this incentive:

  • Performance Tested Comfort Systems, PTCS,-certified contractor must perform duct leakage testing and seal your ductwork. Ducts must be in unconditioned space
  • A minimum 150 CFM50 reduction and one of the following conditions must be achieved:
    • A minimum 50 percent reduction in duct leakage
      –OR–
    • Final CFM50 numbers shall be less than 10 percent of the floor area of the conditioned space
  • A UL-listed carbon monoxide detector must be installed, if not already present, if a combustion appliance is present within the home, garage or other attached space 
  • Your contractor must also provide a PTCS Duct Sealing Certificate & NW Duct Sealing Form with pre- and post-CFM50 numbers.

Duct leakage test: $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 ductwork (measured in cubic feet of air leakage per minute or CFM50). If your ductwork needs to be sealed, the contractor seals the leaks and conducts a second duct leakage test to determine the CFM50 reduction.

To qualify for this incentive:

  • Duct leakage test must be performed by a PTCS-certified contractor 
  • Duct leakage test must be performed to meet PTCS testing procedures

This incentive is also available without sealing ductwork.

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

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

Other Incentives
Moderate-income residents in Oregon who participate in Savings Within Reach are eligible to receive an increased cash incentive when ductwork is sealed by a participating contractor. Special requirements apply. See all available cash incentives for moderate-income residents.

Tax Credits

 

Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit: Potential Oregon tax credit may be available. View availability and requirements. Ask your tax professional for complete details.

Federal energy tax credit: Potential federal tax credit may be available. View availability and requirements. Ask your tax professional 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.

NW Natural customers in Washington who heat their homes with natural gas 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 who is also PTCS certified.

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
Existing Homes
P.O. Box 40508
Portland, OR 97240

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 (PDF | Doc), along with your contractor’s invoice marked “paid in full” and a PTCS Duct Sealing Certificate & NW Duct Sealing Form.

Oregon Small Multifamily Customers (2-4 units)

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

NW Natural Customers in Washington

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