Get Your Ducts Tested at Least Once a Year

Monday, May 30th, 2016 at 11:00 am

The ducts in your home are just as vital for climate control as your actual climate control systems. Unfortunately, they often don't get the attention they need. Ducts are vulnerable to plenty of issues, one of the most problematic being duct leaks. If you want to keep your ducts in good condition, you're going to need to seal some leaks every couple of years. Before that can happen, though, you need to have your ducts tested. Let's take a look at duct testing, and how it can help keep your climate control systems in good shape.

What it Is

Duct leaks are responsible for output losses of up to 30%, according to the US Department of Energy. That means that nearly a third of your heater or air conditioner's total output is lost while it's operating. This costs you more money, and makes your home less comfortable. Sealing those leaks is very important for maintaining the efficiency of your systems. Before those leaks can be sealed, though, they have to be found. That's what duct testing is for. Duct testing is designed to show where problem areas exist in the ducts, so that they can be taken care of.

How Duct Testing Works

Duct testing involves sealing all of the vents in the system except one. A blower is then attached to the open vent, and either increases or decreases the pressure in the ductwork. The rate at which the duct pressure normalizes is used to determine how efficient the ductwork is. Smoke pencils are used at the same time to find specific leaks in the ducts, so that they can be sealed. You want to have duct testing done at least once every couple of years, in order to find any new leaks that may form.

American Heating & Cooling offers duct testing services throughout Whitesburg, KY.