HERS service list
Duct Testing: Leaks in the duct system of your heating and air conditioning system equals energy waste. The average home loses 30% of heated or cooled air to the atmosphere. New requirements as of January 1, 2010 require duct testing if Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) work is done on existing homes to ensure the ducts do not leak more than 15%. For new homes the maximum leakage allowed is 6%. These tests are performed by a certified HERS rater.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): Leaking ducts can also present indoor air quality issues depending on where the leaks are. Leaks on the return side of the system mean your HVAC system is pulling in air from outside your living space introducing mold, mildew or other contaminants. Leaks on the supply side of your system can create a negative pressurization problem in your home causing back drafting of combustion gases from things like gas water heaters or pulling fumes from your garage into your home. Duct testing helps pinpoint these problems.
How big of a project is this? Duct testing is not a major project, but it does require some specialized equipment. Most single family homes with one HVAC system can be tested in under two hours. The process is as follows:
- The HVAC equipment is inspected and the system information is gathered to determine acceptable leakage rates.
- All of the supply vents from the HVAC system are sealed off and a Duct Blaster is attached to the system return.
- The Duct Blaster is throttled on until the proper pressure reading is achieved inside the duct system.
- Once the proper pressure is achieved and maintained, the Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) of leakage will be displayed on the manometer.
