When it comes to duct repair services, professionals will come to your home and perform tests to locate where there are air leaks in the ducts that reduce efficiency and endanger the air. Through duct testing, you can find out about the integrity of your home's ducts. Once the duct tests are finished, the experts will know exactly what needs to be repaired and how to order them. HVAC duct tests are used to detect duct leaks.
There are two types of duct tests: duct pressure or leak (DP) tests and outdoor leak pressurization (LTO) tests. To check for leaks in the ducts, professional methods are used to perform a more accurate analysis. This process uses specialized equipment that is connected to the duct system and then the airflow measurements are recorded to determine if there are leaks. Learn more about the status of your duct system through a detailed report and analysis from GRU's energy experts. As required by RESNET standards, the test is performed with a duct tester, such as the Minneapolis Duct Blaster or the Retrotec Duct Tester.
If duct leakage is proven by roughing, a HERS evaluator must confirm and document that the total duct leak is equal to or greater than ≤ 4 CFM 25 per 100 ft2 of conditioned floor area or ≤ 40 CFM25 using a test protocol approved by Resnet and must verify through a visual inspection that the duct covers are sealed to ultimately finish the surfaces. The information provided to test for leaks in the ducts of new homes also applies to testing for leaks in the ducts of existing homes. A duct air leak test will not be necessary when the ducts and air controllers are located completely within the building's thermal envelope. Some builders, especially those who install ducts in the attic, prefer to wait until the last test of the ducts, since in the meantime, other trades are likely to move them and the ducts will still be accessible. The evaluator must also visually inspect from the starting point that the ducts are completely isolated (up to R-8 for supply ducts and up to R-6 for return ducts and other ducts) along their entire length, including all connections, and that insulation is not compressed by tight belts, structural elements, or by excessive bending. When all ducts are located in conditioned spaces, it will only be necessary to perform a total duct leak test if certain conditions are met. Some builders prefer to check for leaks in the ducts from the drain, when it is easier to access them, in case additional air sealing is necessary. You might wonder why it is important to carry out a duct leak test if all ducts and air controllers are located inside a conditioned space.
Experts estimate that around 30% of energy costs can be attributed to leaks in home ducts, but fortunately these expensive losses can be avoided by calling Blue Ox team for an affordable Aeroseal duct sealing service. A certified home energy evaluator measures and documents pipeline leaks using a test protocol approved by Residential Energy Services Network, Inc. As hot and cold air passes through your home's ducts, it can accumulate dust, mold spores, and other contaminants that enter ducts through air leaks. If these ducts have loose connections where some sections of the duct connect to each other or to duct covers, trunk pipes, or the air treatment system, air may leak through these cracks. If a duct leak test is finally carried out, the HERS evaluator or builder can perform an optional and additional test with duct cleaning before drywall is installed or use a theatrical smoke machine to detect air leaks and be able to seal them before placing them. The “total duct leak test” measures the amount of air leaks in all ducts connected to the air conditioning system, including ducts that are both outside and inside. The good news is that you can eliminate these expensive losses just by calling Blue Ox team for an affordable Aeroseal duct sealing service.
A certified home energy evaluator measures and documents pipeline leaks using a test protocol approved by Residential Energy Services Network, Inc. In conclusion, it is important for homeowners to understand what kind of tests are performed before and after a duct repair service. Professionals use specialized equipment connected to your home's duct system, measure airflow measurements, inspect insulation levels, use theatrical smoke machines for detection of air leaks, and perform optional tests with duct cleaning. All these steps help ensure that your home's duct system, as well as its energy efficiency levels, remain intact.
