Duct Sealing in Millville, DE
Challenge
HVAC ductwork isn't always installed as leak-proof as it should be, even in new construction. That's what happened in this new townhouse in Millville, DE. We don't like to criticize other contractors but the numbers don't lie. When Lawson Home Services crew began the patented AeroSeal™ process these ducts leaked through hundreds of small cracks and holes, mostly at the joints and seams of the metal ducts. Combined these leaks equaled an area of 266 square inches, about the size of a cable tv satellite dish.
It's important to seal ductwork, even if it is contained entirely within areas of the home that are heated and cooled. Leaky ductwork can result in pressure imbalances inside the home which causes heated or cooled air to be forced by pressure outside the home through small imperfections left behind from the original construction - all homes have these imperfections. The air heated or cool by the HVAC equipment doesn't make it sufficiently to the rooms farthest away. These rooms end up being difficult to cool or heat and are often quite uncomfortable in the most extremes of winter and summer climate.
You can see in one of the pictures below where a contractor had tried to seal the joints in the ductwork applying mastic to the outside. It was ineffective for several reason, but mostly because you can't get all the way around the ductwork once it has been installed because of the close proximity to walls, ceilings, and other immovable structures. The mastic eventually shrinks and cracks and over time the leakage, and the problems caused by the leakage, gets worse and worse.
Solution
Because is it designed to seal ductwork from the inside out, AeroSeal™ is the perfect solution to reach all the leaky spots in the ductwork, regardless of where it is located. Lawson Home Services begins by cleaning the interior of the ductwork. Next the supply and return registers are sealed off in each room of the home. The HVAC air handler which contains the coils is also sealed off from the ductwork. The AeroSeal™ product is then pumped into the ductwork and is guided to the leaks under pressure. The material sticks to the insides of the holes and gaps sealing as it passes through. Our graphs show how the leaks are plugged by the amazing AeroSeal™ material literally within the first couple of minutes. Once the process is completed a powerful fan exhausts the excess vapors from the ductwork and vents them outside the house through temporary plastic tubes as you can see in one of the pictures.
One of the side benefits of tightly sealed ductwork is a marked improvement in indoor air quality. Since dust and allergens cannot be drawn into the system through the uncontrolled leaks, the air passing through your HVAC will remain much cleaner and you will notice less dust accumulating in your home. Not only will this save on housekeeping, but it will provide a more healthy environment inside the home.
