Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: What size holes can be sealed using the Aeroseal air duct sealing process?
A: Holes and cracks up to 5/8th of an inch wide can be completely sealed.

 

Q: What does the Air Duct Diagnostic and Inspection tell me?
A: The inspection discovers any obvious break in the duct work and, as the initial step of the sealing process, the Aeroseal system will establish the exact amount of leakage in the duct system. Of course, many people already know that a room or two in their house doesn’t get good air circulation because they can feel it. Or, they already know that their energy bill is high because they see it. The diagnostic measurement provides a scientifically approved means to understand the performance of your air duct system. Many people are surprised to learn that homes typically leak 30% to 40% of their conditioned air through ductwork leaks.

 

Q: What are the estimated savings?
A: A series of government reports have shown that air duct sealing can lead to up to $850 in energy savings per year.  Some homeowners have saved up to 40% on their energy bill. Naturally, exact savings are difficult to precisely estimate since they depend on a multitude of variables such as your weather, house condition, duct design, type of heating and air conditioning system, and system usage. In addition to the energy savings, Aeroseal indirectly preserves your HVAC equipment by reducing run times and cycles.  By sealing the leaks in your ductwork more treated air is making it to your living spaces.  Aeroseal of Connecticut certified consultants are qualified to run a software program made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) called “Duct Investor”. Duct Investor takes a comprehensive list of variables and provides homeowners with the best available estimate of their potential cost savings.

 

Q: In a nutshell, how does an Aeroseal air duct seal work?
A: Basic steps of the application:

1. Pre-seal test to measure the leakage as a baseline for measuring progress.

2. Block off the registers with foam or plastic.

3. Inject the UL tested, and approved, Aeroseal aerosol into the duct system.

Since the air has no place to go except out through the leaks (the registers are blocked), the sealant material is deposited precisely at the air duct holes or cracks where leakage occurs.

4. A computer outfitted with pressure sensors is used to measure and control the progress. The technology is patented from the University of California and the process is endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

5. Post seal leakage test conducted to measure improvements.

6. Post seal report completed, which can be printed and provided directly to the customer as a record of improvement.

 

Q: Does the air duct sealing material become brittle?
A: The vinyl sealing material remains rubbery, never cracking.  The UL testing program was very vigorous on Aeroseal and it passed all trials with excellent results.  The sealing material was exposed to extreme hot and cold temperatures with no negative effects.  It was also found to be mold resistant.

 

Q: How long will the air duct sealing material last?
A: The sealing material has been subject to rigorous testing and proven to last over 10 years without failure.

 

Q: Do air ducts need to be cleaned before Aeroseal duct sealing?
A: It's likely that the holes and cracks in the ductwork have allowed dust and other particulate matter to enter the system. If you are experiencing extensive levels of household dust, this might be the reason. In most instances, duct cleaning is not found to be required prior to Aeroseal sealing. Your Aeroseal contractor can advise whether it will be necessary to clean your ductwork prior to sealing.

 

Q: Does the sealant coat the inside of the ductwork?
A: No, the sealant only sticks to the holes in the air duct without coating the rest of the duct.

 

Q: Is the sealing material used by the Aeroseal air duct sealing system safe?
A: The sealant material consists of a water-based solution (65% water) prior to application. The dried sealant material primarily contains two chemicals, vinyl acetate polymer (VAP) and 2-ethyl-1 hexanol (2E1H). The vast majority of what is left in the duct system is VAP, which has been used in water-based paints, adhesives, and hair spray. VAP has been used in chewing gum, and has no OSHA Exposure Limit. 2E1H is a common industrial solvent and is not considered toxic by OSHA. A review of the literature showed no ill effects after long-term exposure to concentrations of 200 ppm. The largest concentration of 2E1H measured in test houses was 1 ppb (200,000 times smaller), during Aeroseal injection. The sealant is UL-listed for non-smoke generation and no flame spread (UL 723 0,0).  Testing by UL also confirmed that the sealant showed no signs of mold growth or erosion over prolonged periods.  Full testing reports can be provided Aeroseal of Connecticut.
 

Q: Does the sealant leave an odor?
A: The Aeroseal air duct sealing process leaves no lingering odor, and since the material does not put off gas over time, there will be no odor for the life of the product.

 

Q: If the rooms of my home have inconsistent temperatures, can Aeroseal improve the performance of my heating and A/C system(s)?
A: The Aeroseal sealing system can help improve the comfort of your home by reducing the difference in temperature levels throughout your home.  This is possible by sealing the leaks in your ductwork and redirecting that lost conditioned air to your living spaces.  Aeroseal restores the integrity of your ductwork and enables your HVAC system to work as designed.

 

Q: Can the Aeroseal air duct sealing system help reduce my utility bills?
A: Some homeowners have saved up to 40% of their energy bills after having the Aeroseal air duct sealing system seal their central air duct system. A typical homeowner should expect to see measurable reduction in energy use for Heating and Cooling.

 

Q: Can the Aeroseal air duct sealing system reduce the noise made by the return and supply grilles in my home?
A: This noise is usually the result of two conditions. One is created when the ductwork is undersized and air is rushing through your air duct system. The other condition is caused when a limited amount of air is allowed to flow through the indoor coil of your heating and cooling system. Once the exact problem has been identified, Aeroseal of Connecticut can provide the best solution for noise reduction.

 

Q: Can the Aeroseal air duct sealing system reduce the amount of dust in my home?
A: Ductwork runs through attics, crawlspaces, basements, garages, and walls. Leaking return air ducts pull in dust and other indoor air pollutants and sends them to the central heating and cooling system. From there they sent to the living areas of your home. The Aeroseal air duct sealing system can reduce the amount of leakage by as much as 90%, reducing dust and other indoor air pollutants from the conditioned air in your home.

 

Q: Is the sealing guaranteed or can I get my money back? What if it doesn't work?
A: Aeroseal provides a 10-year warranty (residential) and 3 year warranty (commercial) on the performance of the product. We have enormous confidence in the quality of our product since they are based on Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory research and a patent through the University of California. The EPA has endorsed Aeroseal, as have numerous local energy utilities. Note: the warranty is for on-site seal failures and does not cover additional damage (e.g. an electrician that steps on a duct while running wiring), wear or tear (i.e. the shelf life of a plastic duct is passed, rodents eat into a duct, or a duct rusts out), and subsequent replacement of failed ducting. Overall, in the 85,000 seals done to date, warranty claims have been negligible and statistically irrelevant.