By Stephen Robichaud
Energy efficiency is an important part of everyday life in 2018. Efficient energy consumption is a priority at all levels of government – local, state and national. According to a study by the New York Times, sealing ducts in homes is one of the smartest and most economical ways to significantly boost the overall efficiency of a home. The average duct system leaks 25-40%, as duct leakage guidelines and requirements are a relatively recent development in the heating and cooling industry. When ducts are leaky, significant issues can be present. Aeroseal Duct Sealing is a process where the ductwork is actually sealing from the inside. Sealant is injected into the duct system and combined with compressed air. The vents are blocked so that the duct system is under pressure, allowing the sealant to find all cracks, seams and holes and drastically reduce the overall leaking of the system. The process is relatively simple and can be performed in one day. The benefits are serious, and can be summarized in three categories:
Air Quality / Health
Leaky return ductwork allows contaminants and pollutants to enter the air stream from dirty crawl spaces, attics and basements. This can cause significant health concerns associated with allergies, asthma and illness. Sealing these ducts prevents dirty air from entering the air stream, thus improving the air quality and potentially the health of the homeowner. Performing duct cleaning before duct sealing is also hugely beneficial to air quality and health in the home.
Energy Efficiency
Sealing ductwork allows the furnace or fan coil to deliver more conditioned air to the living space. With more air being delivered to the living space, the furnace or fan coil will turn off sooner resulting in much shorter run times. This extends the longevity and lifespan of the equipment and reduces the amount of fuel and electricity required to heat or cool the home.
Comfort
The most significant benefit to the Aeroseal Duct Sealing process is improved overall comfort. Leaky ductwork is synonymous with uncomfortable conditions in the home. Leaky ducts prevent conditioned air from properly reaching its destination. Much of the conditioned air is lost to leakage as it travels from the furnace to the vents – this lost air is what causes hot and cold spots in homes. This leakage is being pushed out of the ducts into basements, attics, and crawl spaces – areas that don’t need to be conditioned. A combination of duct sealing and air balancing can virtually eliminate hot and cold spots.
Stephen Robichaud is in charge of Sales & Marketing at Robies Heating & Cooling. He can be reached at (508) 775- 3083 or Steve@Robies.com
