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Energy By Design
Energy Bills High and Home Comfort Levels Low?
If you're experiencing high energy bills but low comfort levels one of the first places to test for inefficiencies is the home's duct work. A home's duct system is the branching network of tubes in walls, floors and ceilings that creates a pathway for conditioned air to travel throughout the home. Industry experts estimate that there are over a million miles of ducts installed throughout U.S. homes. Of those million miles, over 2/3 are estimated to have leakage issues. Leaky ducts can result in potentially dangerous indoor air quality problems and significantly increase air conditioning and heating bills. Equipment performance is substantially reduced when ducts are leaking and home comfort levels are affected.
Health Issues From Duct Leakage?
In many cases duct leakage has a greater impact on energy use than air infiltration through the building shell. Studies indicate that in both new and older homes duct leakage can account for up to twenty five percent of the energy loss in a home. Uncomfortable hot or cold rooms are the result of duct leakage as is the prevention of heating and cooling equipment doing it's job properly. Humidity is the most serious effect of leaky ducts. Ducts leaking into attic spaces can create substantial mold issues and even worse pull those pollutants back into the air that's being conditioned and then directly into the air you breathe.
Not only is mold a very serious effect of duct leakage. Return leaks pull unconditioned air into the duct system reducing the desired effect of the heating and cooling equipment. Homes that feel clammy even with air conditioners running are the result of moist air being drawn in through leaks and overwhelming the dehumidification capacity of the system. Luke-warm or even cold air coming from heat pumps in the winter are also caused by duct leakage issues. Serious air quality complications are produced through mold, dust, insulation fibers and other allergens contaminating the air drawn in through duct leaks.
How Can Duct Leaks Be Found and Measured?
The most precise and efficient way to find duct leakage issues is to have a duct leakage performance test. The duct leakage performance test requires pressurizing the duct system with a calibrated fan and simultaneously measuring the air flow through the fan. By calculating its effect on the pressure within the duct system. This is also referred to as duct blasting. The less air you need from the fan to create a change in duct system pressure, the more invulnerable the system. To visually demonstrate the location and extent of duct leakage, a smoke pencil or fog machine may be used during the duct leakage test. According to the Uniform Michigan Energy Code, if ducts are installed outside of the building envelope, duct leakage testing is required for all new homes, additions or major renovations.
Who Can Perform Duct Leakage Testing in Central Florida?
Measuring for duct leakage is the most definitive way of determining the quality of the duct system installation. All new homes, major renovations and additions in Florida with duct work outside of the building envelope are required to have a duct leakage test. Energy By Design is qualified to perform these tests and provide you with the documentation necessary to comply with the Florida Energy Code. To schedule your Blower Door and Duct Leakage Test call Energy By Design at: 407-450-0295