Duct Leakage Test in Springfield, PA

Ensure your HVAC system is sealed, efficient, and fully compliant with local regulations through duct leakage test in Springfield, PA. Our certified technicians analyze and measure duct leaks to assist homeowners and builders in improving comfort, reducing energy waste, and fulfilling state requirements.

Why Duct Leakage Test is Important In Springfield, PA

In most states and municipalities, the 2015 IECC, International Energy Conservation Code is required for single-family homes, while the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code is required for multi-family homes. The change will generate several impactful implications for home builders and HVAC contractors operating statewide. A Duct Leakage Test and a mandatory Blower Door Test are now required for all new construction or remodeled homes under the 2015 regulatory standards. Did you know that ducts are frequently the biggest contributors to home air loss in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware? Leaked air can cause your energy bills to rise, strain your HVAC system, and move dust and insulation around your living spaces. This makes duct leakage test critical for both modern and older homes. Continue reading to explore why duct leakage test is important and how you benefit from it.

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How a Duct Leakage Test Is Conducted

To commence a duct leakage test in Springfield, PA, your technician will seal every supply and return register except the primary 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 teams up with a precision pressure sensor to measure airflow accurately and locate duct leaks without affecting your home. 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 rapid, clean, and performed without inconvenience to residents. Most tests in Springfield, PA are completed in roughly 30 to 60 minutes, and the resulting enhancements can support your home’s comfort and efficiency long-term.

How to Measure Duct Leakage

Duct leakage is measured using cubic feet per minute (CFM) per 100 square feet of conditioned floor area. Your technician uses a nanometer to detect pressure variations, helping quantify the amount of duct leakage. Understanding this number enables you to recognize problem areas, consider efficiency improvements, and verify that your home meets local energy code requirements in Springfield, PA.

Cost of Excessive Duct Leakage

If you’re seeing higher energy bills, irregular heating or cooling, or frequent HVAC malfunctions, duct leakage may be at fault. 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 accelerates wear and tear, resulting in more breakdowns and costly repairs. Proper duct sealing helps protect and extend the long-term lifespan of your HVAC system, minimizing the need for repeated maintenance.

Duct leaks can also allow dust, mold spores, excess moisture, and other contaminants into the duct system. This can worsen allergy flare-ups, reduce indoor air quality, and cause long-term structural deterioration behind walls or ceilings.

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 about leaks that lie far within enclosed wall or ceiling spaces?

Aerosol sealing technology (AeroSeal) is designed to reach and seal hidden gaps throughout the duct system. To carry out this method, every vent is sealed except a single access point. The HVAC system is separated, and a machine is attached to the duct system. It pressurizes the ducts and injects fine aerosol particles that seal tiny gaps and holes that typical sealing techniques miss.

This method is very effective for minor to moderate leaks. However, substantial openings may still need traditional sealing with 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 likely place for ducts to leak air is through their joints. Ductwork involves multiple metal pieces pressed together with secure fittings and metal bands, yet these connections are rarely perfectly airtight.

As your HVAC system operates in both heating and cooling modes year-round, the ducts continuously expand and contract. Over time, this movement allows the joints to loosen, producing gaps and leaks — which is why a duct leakage test is suggested for homes of all ages in Springfield, PA.

Many energy auditors identify duct leakage by moving their hands along the ducts and using a small tool to check the width of joint openings. 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 needs to register under 4 CFM per 100 square feet with the air handler attached, or 3 CFM per 100 square feet without it attached. For new construction, an occupancy certificate cannot be issued unless the home passes a duct leakage test.

If your home in Springfield, PA fails its duct leakage test, you are likely facing inflated heating and cooling costs — along with increased strain on your HVAC system. Meeting the 3–4 CFM requirement is indispensable not only for compliance purposes but for ensuring strong comfort and energy savings.

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 Springfield, PA

Local Energy Audits is proud to assist customers across Springfield, PA and its surrounding communities. We specialize in evaluating duct leakage and energy inefficiencies with blower door and duct leakage tests. Whether you’re developing a new home or enhancing an older one, we’re here 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 sealing all the ducts and registers with duct mask tape on both the supply and return side.

After the registers are sealed we attached the duct tester to either the unit itself or 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 Springfield, PA

Ensure your HVAC system continues to perform efficiently, meets compliance, and runs at its best with specialized duct leakage test in Springfield, PA. Whether you’re a homeowner addressing comfort issues or a contractor completing the last inspection step, our certified team ensures fast, accurate, and affordable testing.

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

📞 Call 888-213-3975 ✉️ Request a Quote

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