Duct Leakage Test in ProspectPArk, PA

Ensure long-term HVAC performance and code compliance with expert duct leakage test in ProspectPArk, PA. Our certified technicians evaluate and measure air leaks in duct systems, helping homeowners and builders enhance comfort, decrease energy loss, and comply with state rules.

Why Duct Leakage Test is Important In ProspectPArk, PA

States and municipalities have adopted the 2015 IECC, International Energy Conservation Code for single-family buildings and the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code for multi-family buildings. The change will carry significant implications for home builders and HVAC contractors serving communities in 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 ductwork often causes some of the highest levels of air leakage in homes throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware? Leaked air can push your energy bills higher, pressure your HVAC system, and spread dust and insulation inside your house. This makes duct leakage test necessary for homeowners with either older or newly built homes. Read ahead to see why duct leakage test is important and what you gain from it.

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How a Duct Leakage Test Is Conducted

To get started with a duct leakage test in ProspectPArk, PA, the technician will block every supply and return register except the main return or air handler. A calibrated duct blaster is then secured to the opening. Its function is to depressurize the duct system, creating conditions that highlight any escaping air.

The duct blaster works together with a precision pressure sensor to measure airflow and pinpoint leaks in the ductwork without disturbing your home. A duct leakage test — widely known as a duct blaster test — pinpoints air leakage in your ducts so you can choose the best sealing methods.

duct leakage test is fast, debris-free, and completely resident-friendly. Most tests in ProspectPArk, 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 defined in cubic feet per minute (CFM) per 100 square feet of conditioned space within the structure. Your technician uses a nanometer to monitor tiny pressure fluctuations that indicate how much air is leaking through the ducts. Understanding this number lets you identify inefficiencies, weigh improvement options, and confirm your home’s compliance with local energy code requirements in ProspectPArk, PA.

Cost of Excessive Duct Leakage

If your utility bills keep climbing, temperatures vary from room to room, or your HVAC needs constant fixing, duct leakage may be the cause. According to ENERGY STAR, the majority of homes lose 20% to 30% of conditioned air through duct leaks. Hot or cold air entering from outside increases the workload on your HVAC system, leading to higher energy bills and a drop in comfort.

Overworked equipment also contributes to repeated breakdowns and pricey repairs. Proper duct sealing helps support your HVAC system’s long-term operation, increasing its lifespan and lowering frequent maintenance needs.

Duct leaks can also pull dust, mold spores, excess moisture, and various contaminants into the duct system. This can increase allergy discomfort, degrade indoor air quality, and eventually cause expensive structural issues behind walls or ceilings.

How to Properly Seal Ductwork in an Old Home

The 2015 IRC/IECC outlines that new homes must be built with fully sealed duct systems, utilizing materials like mastic, foil tape, and insulation to enhance energy efficiency. But what do you do about leaks that sit deep within walls or ceilings?

Aerosol sealing technology (AeroSeal) can identify and seal leaks that lie deep inside ductwork. To perform the process, technicians seal all vents but leave one access point open. The HVAC system is isolated, and a machine is connected to the duct system. It pressurizes the ducts and emits a fine aerosolized sealant designed to fill small leaks unreachable with standard sealing.

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 perform pre- and post-aerosol sealing duct leakage tests to measure the improvement and confirm treatment effectiveness.

Common Areas of Duct Leakage

The most usual area for air leakage in ducts is at the joints. Ductwork includes various metal pieces pressed together using tight fittings and metal bands, but these connections are hardly ever airtight.

As your HVAC system adjusts temperatures throughout the year, the ducts go through expansion and contraction. Over time, this movement compromises the joints, forming gaps and leaks — which is exactly why duct leakage test is encouraged for new and older homes in ProspectPArk, PA.

Many energy auditors test for duct leakage by feeling along the ducts and using a small tool to gauge how wide the gaps are at the joints. If your duct system is unsealed with mastic and approved tape, air leakage is almost certainly occurring.

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

To achieve a passing duct leakage result, your system must come in under 4 CFM per 100 square feet with the air handler, or 3 CFM per 100 square feet when the air handler is removed. For new construction, no home can receive an occupancy certificate without first passing a duct leakage test.

If your home in ProspectPArk, 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 matters not only for code compliance, but also for protecting your home’s comfort and reducing energy waste.

Your technician will also give professional advice on resolving leakage issues to help you achieve a passing score, cut down utility bills, and boost your home’s performance.

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

Local Energy Audits is honored to serve customers in ProspectPArk, PA and all surrounding areas. We specialize in diagnosing duct leakage and energy inefficiencies through blower door and duct leakage test. Whether your home is new or existing, we’re ready to help.
If you’d like to book 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 ensuring all ducts and registers are sealed with duct mask tape on both the supply and return sides.

After the registers are sealed, we position the duct tester on the HVAC unit or on a primary return.

The ducts are then taken down to 25 Pascals. With the ducts depressurized, the nanometer is used to determine the leakage level.

Schedule Your Duct Leakage Test in ProspectPArk, PA

Ensure your HVAC system remains efficient, code-compliant, and functioning optimally with skilled duct leakage test in ProspectPArk, PA. Whether you’re a homeowner boosting comfort or a contractor finalizing an inspection, our certified team delivers fast, accurate, and affordable testing.

We use industry-standard duct blaster equipment and offer direct on-site guidance to help you pass your test, lower energy waste, and protect your HVAC system’s long-term health.

📞 Call 888-213-3975 ✉️ Request a Quote

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