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Ductwork should be inspected once a year for leaks. Some utilities and energy raters offer energy audits or diagnostic tools like blower door, duct blaster, and pressure pan tests to detect leaks the homeowner can't easily see. The relationship between supply and return ducts and air movement in the system is complex, and sometimes a homeowner, in fixing one problem, may inadvertently create another. Professionals can sometimes spot such potential problems before they happen.

Source: Wendell A. Porter, Hyun-Jeong Lee, and Kathleen C. Ruppert, The Duct System, UF/IFAS FCS3263, 2008.

Additional Resources

UF IFAS Energy Efficient Homes: The Duct System - http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FY1024

U.S. Department of Energy – Better Duct Systems for Home Heating and Cooling - http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy05osti/30506.pdf

U.S. Department of Energy – Improving the Efficiency of Your Duct System - http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/building_america/27630.pdf

U.S. Department of Energy – Minimizing Energy Losses in Ducts – http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12730