Duct Leakage Test in Norwood, PA

Make sure your HVAC system is performing efficiently and meeting local standards with thorough duct leakage test in Norwood, PA. Our certified technicians measure and identify ductwork air leaks, assisting homeowners and builders in boosting comfort, limiting energy waste, and maintaining state compliance.

Why Duct Leakage Test is Important In Norwood, PA

Many states and municipalities oversee single-family buildings under the 2015 IECC, International Energy Conservation Code and multi-family buildings under the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code. The change will impose meaningful implications on home builders and HVAC contractors working regionally within the state. A Duct Leakage Test together with a Blower Door Test must now be performed in all newly built or remodeled homes to comply with the 2015 regulations. Did you know that improperly sealed ducts account for a major portion of air leakage in homes across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware? Leaked air can increase your energy costs, overwork your HVAC system, and distribute insulation particles and dust around your home. This makes duct leakage test important for all types of homes, whether new or old. Continue reading to learn why duct leakage test is essential and how you can benefit.

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How a Duct Leakage Test Is Conducted

To set up a duct leakage test in Norwood, PA, the technician begins by sealing all supply and return registers, leaving only the air handler or main return open. A duct blaster fan, carefully calibrated for accuracy, is then attached to the duct opening. It depressurizes the ductwork, allowing leaks to become more noticeable.

The duct blaster operates alongside a precision pressure sensor to track airflow and identify duct leaks without disrupting your home. A duct leakage test — sometimes labeled as a duct blaster test — finds where your ducts are leaking air so you can decide on the best sealing strategy.

duct leakage test is quick, neat, and intentionally non-intrusive for anyone living in the home. Most tests in Norwood, PA are wrapped up in 30 to 60 minutes, with improvements that continue to boost comfort and efficiency for years.

How to Measure Duct Leakage

Duct leakage is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM) per 100 square feet of conditioned space. Your technician uses a nanometer to detect small pressure differences, which indicate how much air is leaking through the ducts. Understanding this number helps you spot leakage issues, evaluate corrective measures, and determine if your home is meeting local energy code requirements in Norwood, PA.

Cost of Excessive Duct Leakage

If you’re encountering increased energy bills, temperature inconsistencies, or constant HVAC repairs, duct leakage could be the source. According to ENERGY STAR, homes with leaky ducts routinely lose 20% to 30% of conditioned air. Air entering from outside—whether warm or cold—makes your HVAC operate harder, causing energy costs to climb and comfort to decrease.

Overworked equipment also makes breakdowns more common and repairs more expensive. Proper duct sealing helps protect the long-term performance of your HVAC system, increasing its lifespan and lowering future maintenance requirements.

Duct leaks can also bring dust, mold spores, excess moisture, and other impurities into the duct system. This can make allergies more severe, reduce the quality of indoor air, and produce costly structural harm behind walls or ceilings as time progresses.

How to Properly Seal Ductwork in an Old Home

The 2015 IRC/IECC calls for new homes to include duct systems that are completely sealed using efficient materials such as mastic, foil tape, and insulation. But what do you do about leaks that sit deep within walls or ceilings?

Aerosol sealing technology (AeroSeal) gives technicians a way to reach concealed duct leaks without opening walls or ceilings. To conduct this method, all vents are blocked except for one access point. The HVAC system is isolated, and a machine is connected to the duct system. It pressurizes the ducts and pushes a fine aerosol sealant through them, sealing small holes that ordinary sealing methods can’t reach.

This method is effective at treating small to medium leaks. However, big openings may still need to be addressed with manual mastic-and-tape sealing. Technicians carry out a duct leakage test before and after aerosol sealing to assess how much leakage has improved and ensure the treatment was effective.

Common Areas of Duct Leakage

The most common leakage area in duct systems is the joints. Ductwork involves numerous metal parts pressed together with tight fittings and metal bands, but these connections are almost never fully airtight.

As your HVAC system transitions between warm and cool air throughout the year, the ducts expand and contract. Over time, this movement gradually loosens the joints, creating leaks and gaps — highlighting the importance of duct leakage test in both new and older homes in Norwood, PA.

Many energy auditors verify duct leakage by feeling around the ducts and using a small tool to assess the opening size at the joints. If your duct system lacks proper sealing with mastic and approved tape, there is a high chance that leakage is taking place.

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

To achieve a passing duct leakage result, your system should come out under 4 CFM per 100 square feet in tests with the air handler, or 3 CFM per 100 square feet without the air handler. For new construction, builders must ensure the home passes a duct leakage test before an occupancy certificate is granted.

If your home in Norwood, PA falls short in a duct leakage test, you are probably paying extra for heating and cooling — and placing lasting pressure on your HVAC equipment. Meeting the 3–4 CFM requirement is fundamental not only for code adherence but for boosting your home’s long-term efficiency and comfort.

Your technician will also provide skilled recommendations to resolve leakage problems so you can reach a passing score, decrease energy costs, and improve home performance.

Local Energy Audits — affordable duct leakage test in Norwood, PA

Local Energy Audits is proud to work with customers in Norwood, PA and all nearby areas. We specialize in revealing duct leakage and energy inefficiencies through blower door and duct leakage test. Whether your project is new or existing, we’re here to assist.
If you’d like to schedule a test, call us during business hours or contact us online to request an appointment.

The Duct Leakage Test Steps Explained

A duct leakage test begins by applying duct mask tape to seal every duct and register on both the supply and return sides.

After the registers are sealed, we mount the duct tester onto the unit or onto a main return.

The ducts are then depressurized to a Pascal of 25. With the ducts depressurized we can use the nanometer to get a reading of the duct leakage.

Schedule Your Duct Leakage Test in Norwood, PA

Ensure your HVAC system remains efficient, code-compliant, and functioning optimally with skilled duct leakage test in Norwood, PA. Whether you’re a homeowner increasing comfort or a contractor completing a necessary inspection, our certified team offers fast, accurate, and affordable testing.

We use industry-standard duct blaster equipment and supply on-site guidance to help you pass your test, reduce energy loss, and maintain the long-term health of your HVAC system.

📞 Call 888-213-3975 ✉️ Request a Quote

Serving homeowners, builders, and contractors across Norwood, PA with dependable and energy-efficient testing solutions.