Leaks in air ducts are only one of the numerous reasons why HVAC systems fail to work as expected. On a hot summer day, your home’s ability to maintain a comfortable temperature may be harmed if an air duct leak allows the conditioned air to flow out. But nowadays you can also choose to use the latest Proair duct cleaning equipment.
The heated or cooled air produced by your HVAC system should reach the inside of your home if the piping system is properly installed. Air that would otherwise be wasted may escape via holes in the ducting. Conclusion: there is a lot of lost energy and money and ineffective HVAC performance as a result of this.
As a result of the current labor crisis, many people have been waiting for an HVAC expert to check over their cooling system. While you’re waiting for the technician to come, it’s good to do some self-diagnostics to provide the serviceman with more contexts.
How to do a Visual Duct Leakage Test?
Turn off the air conditioning before beginning the procedure for a visual duct leakage test. As a result of the air conditioning, finding any leaks will be nearly impossible. When inspecting air duct leaks at closed points in the duct or anywhere else where the air duct meets sheetrock, it is especially important to remember to switch off the system.
Turn off the air conditioner before conducting air leakage testing with smoke pencils. A running air conditioner will blow the smoke away from the registers if you attempt to inspect air ducts while it is running. On top of that, because of the way the ducts in air conditioners work, they tend to reduce the amount of air that comes out of the registers when they are on. Hence, smoke pencils can detect leaks only when the air conditioner is turned off.
Testing air ducts and air grilles in your home is a simple process that can be done in any order. Although only 1% of homes have air leaks, air duct leaks can account for up to 30% of all leaks in the house.
By puffing several times, smoke pencils can be flushed with air and pollutants. You can do this by screwing the cap on tightly.
Paint can become discolored if smoke pencils are used excessively or come into prolonged contact with it.
When My Vents Are Insulated, What Do I Do?
Because the metal vents are hidden behind a layer of insulation, they are difficult to reach even in the basement. It’s possible to have an air leak in your ducts, but you may not know it since the insulation covers it. Insulation blowing down due to an air leak may also help locate the issue. If you want to check for air leaks, you’ll need to remove the insulation first. The insulation may be reinstalled after your examination is complete. Before reinstalling the vent insulation, ensure that any treatment performed on the vents is totally dry before proceeding.
How to deal with the disconnected Flex Joints?
Loose flex connections are the starting point for flexible duct repair. Remove the old Panduit strip if it has come off completely. Panduit strips are plastic zip ties used to secure the flexible tube’s internal portion. Remove it from the outer layer as well if you find one. Uncover 8 to 12 inches of inner layer by removing the insulation and outer layer.
Use duct tape to secure the inner layer into place in the boot’s connection point. Using pliers, attach a new Panduit strip. Attach a Panduit strip to the outer layer by lowering it. Continue with the second coat. Apply mastic sealant to the connection with a paintbrush and some paint.
Leaks in visual ductwork can be found, but what about the rest of the system?
A duct leaking specialist may be required to help you with this since it’s an extremely tough problem to solve. During the pre-test, the present system is compared to a duct leakage test that will be carried out later to get an accurate result.
Afterward, a fan can be used to blast air into the ductwork to see how much air is being expelled from the system. It is possible to assess the system’s performance by connecting the equipment to a computer and comparing the results to the readings obtained.
The task is done if the outcomes are satisfactory. The technician will proceed to seal the ducting if the findings indicate that air is escaping. You’ll need an aerosol of a milky and rubbery liquid that will pass through the supply and return ductwork.
Vinyl acetate polymer liquid sealer sprays into the ductwork and fills up any holes or leaks that it may discover. There will be an airtight seal built up around any holes or cracks discovered so that no air can get out.
Final Thoughts
It may be unpleasant for any homeowner to have an air conditioning system that doesn’t work properly. Even if you install a brand-new HVAC system, your property may still not be able to cool down for unexplained reasons. Other times, you may have areas of your house that don’t cool for various reasons. If this is the case, you should check your ducting for air leaks. The conditioned air may not be reaching the living spaces because the vents are leaking.
Locating and repairing air leaks is critical, as is using a material that ensures an airtight seal. A professional duct leakage expert may be necessary if a visual check has failed to reveal any leaks despite your best efforts, even after doing all you can to find the source of the leaks. When it comes to your HVAC system’s efficiency, sealing up holes in your ductwork may significantly influence it.