Air & Energy of NWFL is your Local and Trusted Source for Duct Testing in Pensacola and Beyond!
Air and Energy of NWFL are a specialized duct leakage tester in Pensacola, FL, and the surrounding areas. Duct leaks can lead to higher energy bills, poor indoor air quality, and inefficient heating and cooling.
With our team of experienced technicians, we use the latest technology and practices to ensure accurate results.
Our services go beyond detecting leaks—we also provide installation and maintenance help and advice on how to keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you save energy and money with our duct leakage testing services!
Air & Energy of NWFL is your Local and Trusted Source for Duct Testing in Pensacola and Beyond!
Air and Energy of NWFL are a specialized duct leakage tester in Pensacola, FL, and the surrounding areas. Duct leaks can lead to higher energy bills, poor indoor air quality, and inefficient heating and cooling.
With our team of experienced technicians, we use the latest technology and practices to ensure accurate results.
Our services go beyond detecting leaks—we also provide installation and maintenance help and advice on how to keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you save energy and money with our duct leakage testing services!
Overview of Duct Leakage Testing
What is duct leakage testing, and why is it important for HVAC systems?
Duct leakage testing is a process that can be carried out to measure the airtightness of HVAC ductwork. A duct leakage test is commonly performed in single-family, multi-family, and commercial buildings that use forced air delivery systems for cooling and heating to check for leaks.
How does a duct leakage test work?
A leakage test involves inserting a specialized device into the duct system to measure the amount of total duct leakage. The technician will then compare the results to a testing standard to determine if there are any leaks in your system. During the process, they may use smoke or another testing material to identify weak points and measure the air escaping through them.
Once complete, our technicians will provide you with an accurate assessment of your HVAC system's condition and recommendations on how best to seal any problematic areas.
Benefits of Having Regular Duct Leakage Tests.
Regular duct leakage tests can offer numerous benefits to your HVAC system. By having a professional technician detect and repair any air leaks and reduce air leakage, you can reduce the energy lost through them. This will help you save money on your monthly energy bills, ensure that your heating and cooling system runs as efficiently as possible, and help you better manage your indoor humidity levels.
Additionally, regular testing can help improve indoor air quality by preventing outside pollutants from entering the home. Ultimately, by opting for regular duct leakage testing, you can ensure that your HVAC system works optimally and keeps running smoothly for many years.
We Are Your Local Duct Testing Professionals
Our comprehensive assessment of your duct system to identify any duct leaks can provide a wealth of information. Upon completion of the assessment, a detailed report outlining any air leaks found within the duct system and recommendations to remedy them should be provided to you by your technician. The technician can also assist with installation and repairs where needed.
We also specialize in duct sealing so you can get the most from your duct system. In addition, advice on the maintenance of the system should be given to improve overall efficiency and ensure maximum energy savings. Regular inspections should be conducted to identify issues before they worsen and lead to costly repairs or replacements. With these measures in place, you can maximize the benefit of an efficient and well-maintained HVAC system.
Why should I get my ducts tested?
One of the most common reasons for duct testing is to tell whether a new HVAC system has been installed correctly. A reputable contractor will usually offer to perform the test after installation to demonstrate to a customer that everything is as it should be as far as airtightness is concerned.
If you have an older system and have noticed that airflow is low even after changing filters or replacing the HVAC unit, it could be worth checking whether the solution is related to leakages in the ductwork.
How is Duct Leakage Measured?
The standard pressure used for duct leakage testing is 25 Pa, which is similar to the regular operating pressure of a typical duct system.
As a result, leakage test results are usually given in the airtightness measurement CFM25. CMF25 stands for ‘cubic flow per minute’ at 25 Pa.
In basic terms, this translates to a reading in which 100 cubic feet per minute of duct leakage at 25 Pa equals 100 CFM25.
This measurement adds up to a relatively precise reading for the quantity of air escaping through leaks in the ductwork.
How long will a duct leakage test take?
A leakage test will usually take around 40 minutes. It takes around 30 minutes to prepare the supply and return vents and 5-10 minutes to run the test.
Depending on the area covered by the ductwork, it will take more time to locate leakage points if the test indicates they are present.
How are Duct Leakage Tests performed?
Performing a duct system leakage test requires using a duct leakage tester.
This device uses a calibrated fan to measure airflow rate and a pressure sensing device to calculate the ductwork pressure generated by the fan flow.
The duct leakage tester will be clipped to the return grill to perform a duct leakage test.
All the other supply and return openings will be sealed off using tape.
The tester will then pull a negative pressure through the ductwork and measure whether there is any loss in air pressure (due to leaks) in the ductwork.
Do Leaky Ducts Affect Air Quality?
Ductwork usually passes through sections of ceiling or flooring that often contain large amounts of dust.
If you have a leak in the ductwork, your system could be sucking up this dust and then dispersing it in your living space.
If this happens, the very system that is supposed to keep your air clean and crisp could be causing a drop in overall air quality.
Leaks can lead to the build-up of moisture inside the ductwork. The presence of moisture makes ductwork the ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew.
When the spores from these microorganisms are spread through the air in a building, they can harm its inhabitants' health.
What types of leaks are common in HVAC ductwork?
Two different types of leaks are possible.
Internal leaks involve air leaking from one internal section of ductwork to another. This type of leak will neither reduce the efficiency of your system nor lower its energy efficiency.
External leaks, on the other hand, are more serious. This type of leak is when air from inside the system escapes the system completely. A duct leak test will identify the presence of external leaks, allowing a contractor to locate them and then seal them up.
Will the Test Damage My Ducts?
Providing the contractor who is performing the test has the requisite skills and experience. No harm should come to your ducts.
On the other hand, not getting leaky ducts repaired promptly can increase the cost of future repairs.
Who Performs Duct Leakage Testing?
Duct leakage testing is a complex operation that should be done by a trained HVAC professional. When choosing a contractor, look for BPI Infiltration and Duct Leakage (IDL) certified contractors like Air and Energy of NWFL!
This certification ensures that the contractor has the knowledge, skills, and field experience to conduct an effective duct pressurization test to calculate total system leakage, the degree of leakage to the outside, and general analysis.
Do Leaky Ducts Impact Energy Efficiency?
Leaks in ductwork cause a loss of air pressure inside an HVAC system.
This forces an air conditioning unit to work much harder to produce the same amount of hot or cool air. The extra work the unit must do to maintain indoor temperature means more energy is consumed, lowering the system's overall energy efficiency.
How Much Leakage Is Too Much?
In a perfect world, your ducts should be one hundred percent airtight. However, this is rarely, if ever, possible in reality.
While every system will have one or two natural air escape points, ENERGY STAR®, the joint program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, states that an energy-efficient system should only have a maximum of 6% air leakage.
Does Florida Law Require Ducts to be Tested For Leakage?
While you are not required to test your ducts for leakages as the owner of an existing building, new buildings containing Florida HVAC systems are now subject to mandatory duct testing.
According to the 2017 Florida Building Code Energy Conservation, 6th Edition Section R403.3.2 Sealing (Mandatory):
“Duct tightness shall be verified by testing in accordance with ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380 by either individuals as defined in Section 553.993(5) or (7), Florida Statutes, or individuals licensed as set forth in Section 489.105(3)(f), (g) or (i), Florida Statutes, to be “substantially leak free” in accordance with Section R403.3.3.”
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Whether your home needs its ducts cleaned or a new air conditioning system installed, the specialists at Air & Energy of NWFL has the skills and experience to get the job done to the highest standards and for an affordable price.
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