Duct Leakage Test in East Brunswick, NJ

How a Duct Leakage Test Is Conducted

To initiate testing, your technician will seal all supply and return registers except for the main return or air handler during a duct leakage test in East Brunswick, NJ. A specially calibrated device known as a duct blaster is then attached to the duct opening. Its purpose is to depressurize the system so that escaping air can be detected.

The duct blaster uses a precision pressure sensor to monitor airflow and pinpoint leaks throughout the ductwork without interrupting your home environment. A duct leakage test — frequently called a duct blaster test — reveals air escape points in your ducts, guiding you toward the best sealing options.

duct leakage test is quick, neat, and intentionally non-intrusive for anyone living in the home. Most tests in East Brunswick, NJ are completed within 30 to 60 minutes, and the improvements can benefit your home’s comfort and efficiency for years.

How to Measure Duct Leakage

Duct leakage is monitored in cubic feet per minute (CFM) per 100 square feet of the conditioned sections of the home. Your technician uses a nanometer to sense slight pressure changes, showing precisely how much air is escaping through the ductwork. Understanding this number helps you identify problem areas, evaluate potential improvements, and determine whether your home meets local energy code requirements in East Brunswick, NJ.

Cost of Excessive Duct Leakage

If your home has elevated utility bills, temperature imbalances, or frequent HVAC service calls, duct leakage may be responsible. According to ENERGY STAR, leaking ducts cause the average home to lose 20%–30% of conditioned air. Hot or cold outdoor air infiltrating your system makes your HVAC system work overtime, which boosts energy costs and reduces comfort.

Overworked equipment also leads to more breakdowns and costly repairs. Proper duct sealing helps strengthen the long-term function of your HVAC system, improving its lifespan and reducing ongoing maintenance costs.

Duct leaks can also allow dust, mold spores, excess moisture, and other contaminants into the duct system. This can heighten allergy issues, compromise indoor air quality, and slowly cause expensive structural damage behind walls or ceilings.

How to Properly Seal Ductwork in an Old Home

The 2015 IRC/IECC states that new homes must have duct systems sealed completely with energy-efficient products such as mastic, foil tape, and insulation. But what if the leaks are buried far inside your walls or ceilings?

Aerosol sealing technology (AeroSeal) is used to address openings concealed inside duct systems. To apply this method, every vent is sealed aside from one access point. The HVAC system is isolated, and a machine is connected to the ducts. It pressurizes the ducts and releases a delicate aerosol sealant that settles into small gaps and holes traditional techniques can’t access.

This method seals small to medium leaks effectively. However, large gaps may still call for manual sealing using mastic and tape. Technicians run a duct leakage test before and after aerosol sealing to quantify the reduction in leakage and verify the success of the process.

Common Areas of Duct Leakage

The most frequent source of duct air leakage is the joints. Ductwork uses many metal pieces pressed together with tight fittings and metal bands, but these joining points are rarely airtight.

As your HVAC system provides heating and cooling year-round, the ducts repeatedly expand and contract. Over time, this movement shifts and loosens the joints, resulting in gaps and leaks — which is why all homes in East Brunswick, NJ, new or older, benefit from duct leakage test.

Many energy auditors inspect duct leakage by feeling the ducts and using a small tool to determine how wide the gaps are between joints. If your duct system isn’t sealed with mastic and approved tape, there’s a good chance that leaks are occurring.

What Is an Acceptable Amount of Duct Leakage per Energy Code?

To achieve a passing duct leakage result, your system should stay under 4 CFM per 100 square feet with the air handler attached, or 3 CFM per 100 square feet without it. For new construction, obtaining an occupancy certificate requires passing a duct leakage test first.

If your home in East Brunswick, NJ does not pass a duct leakage test, you are likely paying more than necessary for heating and cooling — and placing long-term strain on your HVAC equipment. Meeting the 3–4 CFM requirement is needed not only for passing inspections, but also for improving home comfort and energy efficiency.

Your technician will also provide professional insights on resolving leakage issues so you can achieve a passing score, lower your utility costs, and optimize home performance.

Local Energy Audits — affordable duct leakage test in East Brunswick, NJ

Local Energy Audits proudly provides service to homeowners and builders throughout East Brunswick, NJ and the surrounding region. We specialize in finding duct leakage and energy inefficiencies through blower door tests and duct leakage tests. Whether you’re constructing a new home or upgrading an older one, we’re ready to assist.
If you’d like to schedule a test, call us during business hours or contact us online to request an appointment.