Why Detroit-area homes lose
so much air through their ducts.
The forced-air duct systems in pre-war Detroit homes — and thousands of similar homes in Hamtramck, Highland Park, Dearborn, Lincoln Park, and surrounding cities — were installed in the 1940s and 1950s with sheet metal, mechanical fasteners, and cloth tape that degrades over 70+ years of expansion and contraction. By the time a Southeast Michigan home is 50–70 years old, its ductwork may be losing 25–35% of conditioned air to the attic, crawlspace, or wall cavities.
This explains why your furnace runs constantly without reaching temperature, why some rooms are always too cold, and why your DTE bill is higher than neighbors with similar homes. The problem affects homes across Detroit, Warren, Southfield, Livonia, and every other pre-1970s neighborhood in Southeast Michigan.
The Detroit Math: A home losing 30% of conditioned air, paying $250/month in winter heating bills, spends $900 per year heating the attic. At DTE's rate of 19.3¢/kWh (17% above national average), duct sealing pays back faster in Southeast Michigan than in most US cities — typically 2–4 years.
Signs your home
has leaky ductwork.
- One or two rooms always too hot or cold regardless of thermostat
- Furnace or AC runs long cycles without reaching set temperature
- DTE bills that seem high for the comfort you're getting
- Excessive dust near supply vents throughout the home
- Rooms at the end of long duct runs always uncomfortable
- Recently replaced HVAC system but comfort didn't improve as expected
Duct sealing costs —
Southeast Michigan, 2026.
| Standard home (1,200–2,000 sq ft) | $400–$900 | Accessible ductwork, moderate leakage |
| Larger home or significant leakage | $900–$2,000 | Extensive sealing, insulation, difficult access |
| Southeast Michigan average | ~$764 | Based on regional service data |